Columella not straight. Right side is different to left. Bulkier. Can this be fixed? Do I need rib cartilage? (photos)

Question

It's month 5 since my rhinoplasty. The left side is bulky and it doesn't feel like swelling it's cartilage I can feel it. Both sides are so different. Please tell me if this can be fixed. When I touch my columella the left side (good side)feels like it has some cartilage holding the nostril in shape. When I touch the right side it feels empty like there's no support (bad side) What can a revision do to fix this? Please help From the front my nostrils look flared out

Barry M. Weintraub, MD, FACS · Answer

It is important to note that no one is perfectly symmetrical; it’s normal for one side of the nose to be different from the other even without ever having had surgery. The sides of the nose are sisters, not twins (as the saying goes).  Evaluating how the nose looks is more important than evaluating how the nose feels. At five months post op, you still have a lot more healing to experience. Please wait the full 12 months before passing judgement on the nose. I recommend continuing to follow up with your surgeon for at least the first year. If after that point, your nose is still not what you were hoping for, then you can consider a revision rhinoplasty. Yet every revision carries with it risks, and if the asymmetry is only slight, I would recommend against revision surgery. If your original surgeon is unwilling to help with a revision surgery, you can consult in person with a board certified plastic surgeon who has decades of experience with revision rhinoplasty to see if they would recommend revision rhinoplasty.

Cem Altindag, MD · Answer

Hi Ali, thank you for the question. You will need a tip and alarplasty, it appears that. It would be much better with a gigh probability. It can be fixed/refined with cartilage grafts. Also, Regards. Dr. Cem Altindag Istanbul

Columella not straight. Right side is different to left. Bulkier. Can this be fixed? Do I need rib cartilage? (photos)

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Columella not straight. Right side is different to left. Bulkier. Can this be fixed? Do I need rib cartilage? (photos)

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.