Possible to Remove Excessive Nasal Grafts and Restore Original Shape?

I had revision rhinoplasty done to correct problems to my breathing and nostrils from a small accident. During the surgery large amounts of ear cartilage grafts were used to cover up the shape of the original rhinoplasty. I now have worse breathing problems and a very large, crooked, colllapsed nose with uneven lumps of grafts on the sides and tip making it very wide. Can an experienced reconstruction surgeon remove excessive grafting and restore some of the original shape and breathing abilities of my primary rhinoplasty nose?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by Swollen in North

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (1)

Removal of excess grafts

Yes - the grafts may be removed or revised. In general ear cartilage is not the best material to provide structural support to the nose when correcting breathing problems

Sam Naficy, MD

80 reviews

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleface.com

Revision rhinoplasty to restore original shape of nose

Yes, cartilage grafts in the nose can be surgically removed to restore the nose to its original state. Communicate to your surgeon what your aesthetic goals are prior to undergoing this type of difficult revision surgery, so that the patient and surgeon have a good understanding of what the goals and expectations are once the grafts are removed and the breathing restored.

Nasal Revision to Restore Original Shape

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your previous nasal surgery. The grafts can be removed, revised, or moved depending on your goals. You did not like the previous nose, so why settle for the original shape after another surgery. See a rhinoplasty surgeon who does a lot of revisions to discuss alternatives and establish reasonable expectations.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Secondary Rhinoplasty

You will need a very experienced Plastic surgeon well known in Rhinoplasty. See Dr> B. GUYURON, chairman department of plastic surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio

Reconstructive rhinoplasty

It may be very difficult to restore the nose to its original shape. Certaine structures may have been removed or remodeled. Earlier photographs could be helpful.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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Comments (1)

Unoq 29 Apr 2013

Great, this is music to my ears. I have a very similar situation where grafts were put in to "cover up" my nasal problems. Now my nose is like a lumpy blob and the tip graft is huge/ super wide. The grafts "widened" a few months post surgery so I don't know whether my problem is scar tissue too. Would love to hear frm anyone who's had their grafts removed!!

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