Unhappy with side profile after rhinoplasty - will I need a revision? (photos)

Question

What is going on it seems like my side profiles are getting worse. Is this going to need a revision?

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

You didn't mention what the original goals of the operation were, but from what I see, it was probably to lower the little bump on the bridge and elevate the tip, and maybe narrow the tip a bit as well. In the final after, it doesn't appear that the tip was elevated. It might be lower than it had been. The bump on the bridge might look larger than the early post-op photo because the tip dropped some and came back closer to your face -- that would make the bridge look higher. Many plastic surgeons think that elevating a tip is a trivial task, but it's really not. It requires quite a bit of expertise. The good news is that, in expert hands, elevating a tip and lowering a bridge, even in a revision, are two of the more predictable changes to accomplish. How *much* to elevate the tip, or lower a bridge, or make other changes? We figure that out with morphs, well before surgery. I'd love for you to see some excellent professionally-designed morphs of what could possibly be done with your nose. Morphs could also help you identify better just what's bothering you, and help you set a goal for the rhinoplasty that's accurate for your tastes. Profile and three-quarter views would be particularly important in morphing your nose. (Side note: in my opinion, morphs should really be done by the surgeon, or he should direct an assistant as she makes the morphs. Morphs should be made with a constant eye to what actually *can* be done in surgery, for that particular nose, and the surgeon has that information and judgment best.)

Finally, remember that rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. The changes that your nose needs require advanced techniques, and skill that most plastic surgeons don't possess with expertise. For most noses, it's much better to not have surgery than to have inexpertly-performed surgery. Read my essay on how to stay out of trouble while selecting a rhinoplasty surgeon. And it also discusses how to take photos that are best for online evaluations.

And for those who have had previous surgery, it also discusses how to tell whether your first surgeon should be performing your revision.

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question. As far as I can see from your photos your nose is still too swollen. I cannot make any decent consultation. After 1 year the consultations will be much more decent. Best Regards!

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It's important to wait at least a year before contemplating undergoing a revision surgery To allow full healing to occur before embarking on a another procedure. If you were talking about this very small Residual dorsal hump, that would involve shaving down a millimeter of extra bone and cartilage.

Unhappy with side profile after rhinoplasty - will I need a revision? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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Unhappy with side profile after rhinoplasty - will I need a revision? (photos)

Answers (3)

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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.