What Are the Long-term Effects of Having Multiple Rhinoplasties?

Question

I've had primary and secondary rhinoplasty done. And I was wondering if it could possibly give me any problems in the future...Say 10 or 20 years. How much weaker does it make the structure of the nose?

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

If the secondary surgery was done in a way to support the nose, there will be little to worry about in the future, i.e., 10-20 years.

David C. Pearson, MD · Answer

Ideally, proper structure should be preserved or created during rhinoplasty to avoid the inevitable and relentless forces of contracting scar. A well executed rhinoplasty&ndash;even a revision&ndash;should take that into account. The bigger concern, perhaps, with multiple revisions is the quality of the blood supply to the tissues. There's a limit to how much this can be controlled. Two rhinoplasties is usually not an issue, however, in a non-smoking, non-diabetic patient, in my experience.
All the best,
--DCP

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Freya,Can you say Michael Jackson (rest his soul)? Michael Jackson is an example of the removal of the underlying structural supporting cartilage and bone of the nose. When the scaffolding of the nose is removed, the overlying skin "shrink-wraps" giving the nose a very unnatural appearance. As long as your surgeon has maintained the boney-cartilaginous skeleton of your nose, you should not worry about your nose in the future. It will continue to refine over years as scar tissue is reabsorbed and the skin thins.Good luck and be well.Dr. P

Steven J. Pearlman, MD, FACS · Answer

We tell all patients that the nose heals for a few years following rhinoplasty. This is true and supported by following rhinoplasty patients for many years. After about 2 to 3 years or so following a primary surgery and 3 to 5 years after revisions, there are usually little to no further changes. However the nose still ages as do all other parts of the body. Properly performed rhinoplasty should leave sufficient structure to minimize changes other than normal aging 10 to 20 years after surgery.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

In 10 to 20 years, the skin in the nose tends to give a slight shrink wrap effect and if the structural component of the cartilage and bone of the nose is not sufficient it can collapse inward. It really depends on what type of procedures were performed and where the cartilage grafting has taken place and how much structural integrity was left in the nose at the time of the rhinoplasty to predict what it is going to look like in 10 or 20 years.

Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD · Answer

The fact that you have had two rhinoplasties does not necessarily mean that you will have problems in the future or that the structure of the nose will necessarily be weaker. The reasons for your primary and secondary rhinoplasty and the quality of the procedures performed are the important factors. 
There are some people that have revision rhinoplasty procedures where a large portion of the bone and cartilage structure is missing and replaced with significant scar tissue. On the other hand, most of the supporting structure may still be present or even further supported by cartilage grafting materials with excellent post surgical contours that may be maintained for many years

Victor M. Perez, MD, FACS · Answer

If you had your surgeries performed correctly, there is nothing to worry. One important factor to consider is when were your surgeries performed?, the final result from a rhinoplasty is not earlier than 12 months, your scar tissue will continue to change and some details will be able to be more noticeable. A rhinoplasty may look great for 6-12 months and then you can start noticing some imperfections. But again if the surgery was done properly and this was done more than 2 years ago, most likely you will be OK

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

In rhinoplasty one modifies the dorsum and the tip. Some noses need adding cartillage if the supporting structures are weak, some carillage is removed, some a combination of both. So it depend on what was done. Enjoy what you have now and see how it changes in the next few years.

Nina S. Naidu, MD, FACS · Answer

If you had a significant amount of cartilage removed, then conceivably you might notice changes within 2-3 years. If there is no change by that time, then it would be unusual to see a change at 10 years out from surgery. Every additional surgery creates more scar tissue which can heal unpredictably, which is another reason why we try to avoid too much work on the nose after the initial surgery. Good luck, /nsn.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you have one or two it is probalby OK. The nose will age like the rest of the body and may thin out a bit. If you are talking about more than 1 or 2 or even 3, I would suggest looking at MJ's before he passed.

What Are the Long-term Effects of Having Multiple Rhinoplasties?

Answers (13)

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