How will recovery / risks be for revision involving placement of unilateral spreader graft only? Swelling time?

Unfortunately, even minor revisions with cartilage grafts involve reopening the nose, and so swelling is to be expected which can take many months to fully resolve. Sometimes spreader grafts can be placed intranasally without doing an open rhinoplasty, and then there will be minimal tip swelling and the swelling will be less noticeable. You need to get more information and an opinion from your surgeon.

Hello n2221,I would say that it really depends on what approach is used. If the nose is "reopened" where the tip skin is reelevated, then the swelling would really be about the same. An endonasal approach that avoids the tip could have a reduction in swelling, but also limit the ability to precisely place the graft where it needs to be. Your surgeon might be able to discuss his or her approach with you.Michael M. Kim, MD

Yes, a minor revision rhinoplasty to place a spreader graft on one side of the nose will have a faster healing time with less bruising and swelling than the primary rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty techniques can accomplish the goals of harvesting a small piece of cartilage from inside the nose and placing it as a spreader graft. For more information  about spreader grafts and many examples, please see the video and the link below