I had Rhinoplasty overseas, and asked the surgeon to minimize my tip about 2-3mm, to soften my look. When I woke up and the splint was removed, I noticed he gave me more than what I asked for. He took half my nose, left me with a bulbous tip, short nose deformity, and a pig snout! Since then, I've been depressed, confined myself at home, and just feel violated and very unnatural looking. I can't look at myself in the mirror anymore. I've asked for second opinions, and surgeons want me to wait from 6 months to a year. I don't understand WHY; my nose is not getting any longer in 6 months, that's very clear. I understand the healing process takes up to a year, but why prolong my misery when swelling clearly isn't going to resolve my nose issues?
The reason we make patients wait 6 months or more is to let the tissue soften and return to its final shape. However, I think there are exceptions to this rule based on how far along you are in the healing process. You do not want to compound the problem. You should see a revision rhinoplasty specialist with a great deal of experience.
A short, overdone nose is a very challenging problem and should only be undertaken by a surgeon who is familiar with this problem. He should be able to show you before and after revision noses like yours.
First, let me say it's important for you to try to get back into your normal life with the knowledge that this can be improved.
That being said, there is a general rule in facial plastic surgery and with rhinoplasty that revision should be held off for at least 6 months to a year. The reasons are varied but most importantly to allow for your skin to have adequate time to heal, especially in regards to the blood supply. Others will say that it allows for all the swelling to settle to give a better sense of what needs to be accomplished during the revision. Still more, when the nose is re-operated before that time there is more inflammation present which results in a bloodier and thus more difficult procedure.
All this being said, we do not think that this rule is dogma. Individual cases should be viewed as such and a plan for moving forward can then be made. For cases where we may think that time will only make things worse we do occasionally intervene sooner.
I hope the knowledge that this can be made better will bring you some sense of relief and solace. If we can be of any further help, please feel free to call or email us.
Warm Regards.
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A: Wait at least 6 months for your revision rhinoplasty if not 1 year
I will give you an analogy. Going back into a nose that has been operated on is very difficult. It is like trying to peel a stamp off of a letter that has been on there for a while. We want to be able to get that stamp off in one piece without ripping or tearing it. The longer you wait (up to a year) the easier that is to do. You already had a bad experience now you want to give yourself the best opportunity to get the results you desire and your problem is very complex and will require a rib graft to elongate your nose appropriately. Don't let anyone jump in there too early because if this revision doesn't go well, the third time will be even that much more difficult.
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