How do I learn the state of my nose before surgery?

Question

I know from speaking with surgeons that if I get a revision rhinoplasty I will need grafts. But I have had one revision before and that doctor did not make any surgical notes. So, I do not know what is tissue, scar tissue, or graft. I want to know what is still natural tissue vs scar or graft for two reasons (1) in case surgery isnt a good idea and (2) to understand what can and safely be done to my nose. Will an xray or some other scan work? Would a doctor open me up just to inspect the nose?

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. The short answer is that there is no way of knowing. There is no imaging technology (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, etc), that can show the structure of the nose underneath the skin. Even with detailed operative notes or diagrams, the variability in nasal anatomy after primary rhinoplasty is virtually infinite. There will be natural structure (with modifications), scar tissue, and possibly cartilage grafts. There is no role for "opening me up just to inspect the nose"--that occurs at the beginning of every revision. This is precisely why revision rhinoplasty is challenging--the surgeon has to be comfortable with a certain amount of unknown, and confident enough in their experience to safely improve the nasal structure. Having said that, your surgeon should provide you with a very informed analysis of the potential risks of revision surgery, including whether it is safe to proceed at all.
Cheers,Dr. Tower

How do I learn the state of my nose before surgery?

Answers (1)

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.

How do I learn the state of my nose before surgery?

Answers (1)

Browse related questions

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.