What Options do I Have When Removing a Nose Implant?

This is a very common request from patients who have had Asian Rhinoplasty surgery in Asia with a silicone implant.  I prefer to use cartilage from within your own body to avoid the complications that I have seen, some of which are far worse than what you describe. 

Your skin may have stretched for the duration the implant has been present and you may need to place some of your own cartilage in that space or filler; however, it is hard to say without having properly evaluated you.  The shine you describe can be caused by a couple of different things related to the implant.

I would recommend that you have a consultation with a board certified specialist in the face who performs Asian Rhinoplasty who can best help you achieve the results you desire.

  I have used straight, silicone, dorsal implants for Rhinoplasty and Revision Rhinoplasty for over 22 years and IMHO, it's unlikely that you'll be able to go without some type of dorsal implant if you remove the existing silicone implant during revision Rhinoplasty.  It's a bit complicated but during placement of a dorsal implant, the mid section, of the nose where the bone and cartilage meet, often needs to be reduced along with the nasal bones in order to accommodate the thickness of the dorsal implant.  The thicker, the implant, the more this is liekly to be required.  This alows the proper aesthetic size, height and shape of the nasal dorsum to be created.

  Now, if the skin is too thin or the implant is too thick to accommodate the implant, you may see the sheen of which you speak.  Further, if the existing dorsal implant is removed and the nasal bones have been reduced, you will need some type of dorsal implant to provide closure of the open roof deformity as well as provide the proper aesthetic dorsal height.  IMO, this would mean replacing the existing silicone implant with one that's not quite as thick.  Ear cartilage, rib cartilage/bone have a tendency to dissolve unevenly over time and as such are not appropraitely reliable and stable, IMO, for use a s a dorsal implant.