Third Revision Rhinoplasty - is it safe?

Question

Hey I have a couple questions about a third revision rhinoplasty. So I have had a deviated septum since I was a child, I got one septoplasty in 2019 then a revision rhinoplasty in January of this year because I still couldn’t breathe. I got a CT scan and my nose is still deviated and the ENT surgeon i was referred wants to do a surgery again and I want to know is it safe? What are the chances this one will be my last and it hasn’t even been a full year yet.

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question.
As far as I can understand from your question If there is no problem in your health, yes, you can have another surgery for your deviation. Your surgeon will inform you correctly about this and a second surgery can be performed after the 6th month.
It would be better face to face consultation.
Best Regards!

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

This is definitely a time to get a 2nd opinion. What exactly is deviated? Are they even sure it's deviation that's causing this at this point and not something like valve collapse? I would also the surgeon why they want to do the surgery so soon (not having been a full year).

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. In the hands of an expert revision surgeon, it is very possible to have a very nice result after three previous surgeries. Here is some general advice when considering surgeon selection for your revision:   I highly recommend that my patients focus much more on real longterm before and after photographs rather than 3D imaging.   I encounter so many patients in my practice who see me for revision rhinoplasty who previously had surgery elsewhere who feel like they were mislead into surgery by surgeons who relied heavily on 3D imaging without adequate real before and after pictures to back it up.  Photoshop is easy but real surgery is very different.

I always recommend that you carefully evaluate your surgeon’s online before and after gallery on their website for both quality and quantity of results. Make sure that there are hundreds of real before and after pictures which demonstrate long-term follow up results. If your surgeon is posting mostly on table results without real long-term follow up results, that is usually a major red flag.  If a surgeon is posting mostly just splint removal day videos without longterm follow-up pictures, that can also be a red flag.   Long-term results are much more meaningful than on table results or 1 week post-op results.  I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

As always, pictures are worth 1000 words. If you like, please consider re-asking a question with photographs so we can advise you better about the feasibility of another surgery. The safety of tertiary revision rhinoplasty completely has to do with your examination and what was done previously. Please consider meeting with several reputable rhinoplasty specialist so you can see what might be best for you moving forward. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

Third Revision Rhinoplasty - is it safe?

Answers (4)

Answer: Check out tips for choosing your rhinoplasty specialist.

Answer: Check out tips for choosing your rhinoplasty specialist.

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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Third Revision Rhinoplasty - is it safe?

Answers (4)

Answer: Check out tips for choosing your rhinoplasty specialist.

Answer: Check out tips for choosing your rhinoplasty specialist.

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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.