Undergoing a nose job, aka rhinoplasty, is a big deal. Still, more than 200,000 Americans had their noses reshaped last year alone. You may be one of them. You may be one of the rhinoplasty patients who is looking at your facial proportions and feeling as though something isn’t quite right. The idea that your nose job was a failure can feel scary. We understand. Here, we want to discuss the issue of rhinoplasty failure, why this may happen, and what to do if you’re unhappy with the results of your initial surgery.
Let’s Talk Healing
After an initial rhinoplasty, it takes as long as a year to visualize the final outcome of surgery. Swelling is most dramatic during the first month after surgery. After this time, you may have a fair idea of what your face will look like going forward. However, most surgeons recommend that patients wait a full year to consider revision rhinoplasty. Residual swelling is only one reason for this. Even more significant than the physical appearance of the nose, it is essential to give yourself time to get to know your new face. Changing the shape and size of the nose even slightly alters the way in which all facial features relate. It can take that full year after surgery to become familiar with the change.
Why Rhinoplasty may Fail
Rhinoplasty failure occurs in only 5- to 10 percent of cases. Reasons that patients may consider revision rhinoplasty include:
- The outcome of the initial procedure does not suit the face.
- Healing did not occur as expected.
- The initial procedure altered nasal function.
- Nasal trauma occurred sometime during the healing process.
It is possible that surgical inexperience may result in a failed rhinoplasty. Perhaps too much alteration took place, or not enough. Patients who are considering rhinoplasty are encouraged to ask how many nose jobs a surgeon has performed. When revision rhinoplasty is being considered, the experience of the surgeon is even more critical.
Discussing Revision Rhinoplasty
If you are considering revision rhinoplasty, we invite you to contact our office in Austin for a personal consultation. Our priority in discussing revision rhinoplasty is to understand your concerns and your desired outcome. In discussing revision, it is essential that we communicate the shape and size that you expect. Additionally, it is equally as important to talk about the relationship between the nose and other facial features. The objective of rhinoplasty is to bring a sense of proportion and harmony to the face. To achieve this takes finesse, training, expert skill, and an artistic eye.
Are you unhappy with the results of a previous nose job? Contact our Austin office at (512) 450-1077 to schedule a consultation for revision rhinoplasty.
