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Six Months Enough Waiting Before Revision Rhinoplasty?

I had a primary open septoplasty/rhinoplasty 3 months ago and am not entirely happy with the results. My profile is much better than before but from the front my nose is quite crooked it was never this crooked before. Also, my breathing problem are only somewhat improved as my septum is now deviated to the other side.

My doctor agrees there is a problem and he wants to do some tweaking in a few months when I'll be six months post-op. Do you think this is long enough to wait? I'm very keen to have it fixed! Thank you.

Asked 27 months ago by caldo in 5051
Sort 14 expert answers by:
+1

Nasal Tissues Have Healed Typically 6 Mos Post-Rhinoplasty

The answer is, typically yes, 6 months post Rhinoplasty the nasal tissues have healed enough to allow Revision Rhinoplasty.  Your plastic and cosmetic surgeon should check the quality of the nasal skin and assess blood supply before proceeding with the revision Rhinoplasty.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Revision rhinoplasty is a difficult procedure

I would agree with Dr. Rand. The timining of your revision procedure is probably not as important as the procedure which is done. While I would wait at least 6 months before performing a revision (and sometimes a year), revision rhinoplasty surgeries are fairly difficult operations. While a complete examination is definitely necessary to determine what is required, just looking at your frontal view appears that your revision is going to be fairly complicated. I would suggest getting a... more
D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Revision rhinoplasty

With all due respect, your nose revision is far more complex than "a little tweeking." If those were your surgeon's own words, perhaps they don't really understand the complexity of the problem you now have. I might suggest you go to a revision rhinoplasty expert as you probably only have one more chance at a decent result.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision Rhinoplasty

In reviewing your post septorhinoplasty photograph it is my feeling that there is a lot more then a "little tweaking" that needs to be done. I would strongly suggest that you get a secondary opinion with a skilled surgeon who is familiar with Revision Rhinoplasty surgery.
Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision rhinoplasty time

Waiting at least six months if not longer, will allow the healing process to mature so secondary healing is not complicated. Occasionally, obvious malpositioning of implants etc. can be done through a small incision, but major revision will have to wait. Follow up with your surgeon.
Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision Rhinoplasty

Caldo: Your photograph shows this will not be a minor revision. Therefore, I respectfully suggest you wait a full year after the original surgery. It may be helpful to get a second opinion, even if you are very comfortable with your surgeon.
Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision Rhinoplasty

Hi Caldo, Contrary to what most surgeons think, revision rhinoplasty can be performed very soon after the initial surgery. If there is a gross deformity, there is absolutely no reason to wait. This could be a poorly placed nasal implant, obvious crooked nose, inadequate reduction of dorsal cartilage or other circumstances. If, on the other hand, you have a minor problem such as prolonged swelling or mild asymmetry, I agree that it is better to wait 6 to 12 months. For gross abnormalities, I... more
Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Wait a year for revision rhinoplasty

After an extensive primary rhinoplasty/septoplasty it is probably best to wait a full year to allow for the swelling to subside. Some things may improve that may have been "fixed" in a surgery done too early. Additionally, the repair will be much easier from a technical aspect if the time for the initial healing is allowed. Finally, the repair will probably be as extensive as the first surgery, thus, a tincture of time is best.
Jennifer Parker Porter, MD
Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision rhinoplasty

I prefer to wait about one year before undertaking a revison rhinoplasty.  This will be when the soft tissue swelling resolves.  However, some doctor may opt to do it sooner.
Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Timing for revision rhinoplasty: It depends on the extent of the intial procedure.

I am not sure that this is the proper venue in which to address your concerns. It is apparent that your nose could clearly benefit from additional intervention. However, it is equally important to know where you started and what was done at the initial procedure. If a minor procedure was performed, 6 months may be suffcient time to perform an additional procedure. If an extensive surgery was initially performed, than a year may be a more realistic time period.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

This revision rhinoplasty will require a lot of work.

Normally I recommend waiting a year, and as hard as that is, that's still not unreasonable in this case. Given the degree of work involved in fixing this--and it will be substantial, unfortunately--it probably should wait for a full year from surgery. And not to knock your surgeon unfairly, but if this is the result from a primary rhinoplasty, you probably need a different surgeon for the revision. Revisions are a lot trickier and require a surgeon who's...well...better (or luckier)...than whoev more
David C. Pearson, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Wait a Year for Revision

As other surgeons have noted: the aesthetic issue with your nose is not amenable to a little tweeking. I would view it as somewhat of a complicated revision rhinoplasty. It is best to wait at least 1 year before considering revision due to the nature of swelling and inflammation you will experience if you do not. It appears that the middle vault and tip of your nose are deviating toward the right and there is a depression or concavity along the left middle vault. This may be related to... more
Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is Six months enough waiting before a Revision Rhinoplasty?

Caldo, I agree with all the points made below. I sincerely hope I do not hurt your feelings, but the REVISION you will require will not be a small one which really begs the question of how did the nose look before the surgery. On the picture you provided above, you are slightly rotated to the right so it is not a true frontal view, nonetheless, there appears to be a depression on the dorsum of the nose, the nasal tip is large, amorphous - without definition and both rotated to the right... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision Rhinoplasty Waiting Time

Most patients who have rhinoplasty, only require one procedure. An estimated 5-15% of all first-time rhinoplasty patients may require a touch-up or revision rhinoplasty procedure at some point in the future. Patients with conditions such has prior nasal trauma, nasal surgery, rhinoplasty, or congenital cleft nose may have an even higher chance of revision surgery. The results of rhinoplasty are better realized at one year from the initial operation. The nose, however, continues to change... more
Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
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