Can Lateral Crural & Columellar Struts Ever Be Removed?

A seasoned revision rhinoplasty surgeon is rarely scared of previous graft placement; almost any graft can be removed, but with caution and meticulous dissection so as not to cause injury to other structures. Most grafts do not feel uncomfortable, but may look too full or visible. Alar retraction is rarely caused by the placement of a graft, but is more likely due to too much resection of the cephalic margin of the lower lateral cartilages or the vestibular skin underneath them, or by filling out the columella so much that the alae look retracted. Your tip asymmetry could be secondary to many possibilities, such as healing contraction, a migrated graft, or bossa formation. Most columellar struts go between the medial crura and should not be causing a kissing problem unless they shift. Sounds like your personal conclusions might be best analyzed by a visit or two to specialists in revision rhinoplasty; it may be that removal of the grafts alone will not solve your concerns. 

Experienced surgeons are not 'scared' of the columellar and lateral crural struts. However, be careful to select a good revision surgeon. If you do have weak cartilages you could have some nasal collapse if you remove all the support provided by the cartilage grafts. Your surgeon will need to determine if your cartilages are weak, and if the grafts need to be reduced or repositioned to correct the tip asymmetry, alar retraction, and the stiff columella.