Have I Had Too Many Nose Jobs?

I had 2 previous nose jobs when I was 18 and again at 20 I am now 37 and would like to shorten the tip of my nose but it seems the previous doctors left a hole between the nostrils inside. In other words, from what drs. have told me, there is no cartilage to hold up the tip to get it shorter.
Can you help me? Is there a way of correcting this and so there is no longer a hold from one nostril to the other.
Many thanks for anything you can suggest.

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18 Doctor Answers | Asked by debra weintraub in las vegas, NV

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Rhinoplasty revision can be very safe

There are a number of reasons why patients seek a secondary (revision) rhinoplasty procedure. In certain situations, the initial procedure may have not fully corrected the undesirable features of the nose. In other situations, the initial rhinoplasty may have actually resulted in certain undesirable features. As long as the skin of the nose is healthy, and enough time (typically one year) has passed since the previous surgery, there is no problem with having one or multiple revisions. The... more

Sam Naficy, MD

80 reviews

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleface.com

Revision rhinoplasty is a discipline all and of itself...

Revision rhinoplasty is a discipline all and of itself and is an extremely difficult operation to execute. After each surgery the nose goes through a healing process. Unfortunately, with each subsequent surgery the healing becomes less and less predictable. It is best to keep the number of nose jobs at a minimum to prevent scar tissue, untoward healing, and an over-resected and operated look.

Septal Perforation Repair and Rhinoplasty

It sounds like you would certainly be a candidate for revision rhinoplasty and repair of a perforation in your nasal septum. The septal perforation can cause issues for patients such as chronic crusting, bleeding, or whistling with breathing. In other cases, there may not be any symptoms at all. The septum can be repaired at the time of your rhinoplasty with the use of temporalis fascia, a soft tissue graft which is harvested by making a small incision behind your hairline, over your... more

Possible Septal Perforation

It sounds like the "hole" you describe is a septal perforation. Seek a well qualified surgeon for advice about repairing the "hole," restoring tip support and whether the change you seek are advisable. Revision Rhinoplasty can be challenging!

Revision rhinoplasty concerns

As you have probably learned, revision rhinoplasty requires a surgeon with experience and expertise to undertake this rather difficult procedure. It is not just the number of surgeries that you had, but the state of your nasal tissues that matters. A nasal specialist would assess the degree of scarring, residual nasal cartilage, need for additional cartilage (ear, rib, homologous) and prepare an appropriate surgical plan. Only in this fashion is there any hope to... more

Maximum number of revision rhinoplasty surgeries

The answer to the question 'how many is too many' is highly indivualized and will vary from person to person. Problems such as the ones you describe may be correctable. However, a personal examination would be necessary to determine if these are feasible or recommended in your situation. For example, it sounds as if you may have a septal perforation, or hole in the septum. In some cases, these can be repaired. In large perforations, a unique but extensive procedure can be used to repair... more

Sam Most, MD

23 reviews

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drmost.com

Revision rhinoplasty

We do many revision rhinoplasties, and they are sometimes indeed extremely complex. Sounds like you have a septal perforation, perhaps, and a droopy tip. The first thing you need to do is to see an experienced facial plastic surgeon and discuss your problems and expectations. Usually we can get cartilage from the ear, sometimes from the rib, to rebuild the structure that has been lost. It might be helpful for you to see several surgeons for their opinions, and decide whether the revision... more

Revision rhinoplasty following 2 previous rhinoplasty procedures.

From your description it seems a good choice to undergo another well planned and executed reconstructive rhinoplasty to restore form and function. A third nasal surgery is not contraindicated when there is much to be gained and little downside. Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC.

Shorten my nose after 2 previous surgeries

As you gather it sounds like you have a septal perforation, and it can be treated or not depending on the level of morbity you suffer with it. Some people can be operated on many times. Their skin doen't seem to wear out, the infrastructure seems to continue to be modeled without difficulty or complications. Whether you ae one of those or if you are one who needs to run away from surgery as fast as you can is a decision you and a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can make... more

Diminishing returns with multiple rhinoplasties.

You describe a septal perforation which would require reoperation to fix. It's not very easy if it's large. The aesthetic portion is impossible to predict but with each subsequent rhinoplasty a predictable result is harder and harder to achieve.