Doctor defatted (surgically thinned) nose skin during rhinoplasty. Is there a safe way to re-add fat or fix this?

Hello and thank you for your question. Without an exam or photograph(s), it is difficult to answer this question. A potential (temporary) solution is nasal filler. A more permanent solution is a revision rhinoplasty involving soft tissue grafting (specifically from mastoid fascia) to thicken the tissue.

Once all the swelling has resolved (in a year to a year and a half), the next step for you is to pursue the right aesthetic plastic surgeon for your revision rhinoplasty. In your rhinoplasty consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your aesthetic goals and concerns specifically, and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course. Also, be sure to see plenty of before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar nose appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome.

After seeking out a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon. It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on rhinoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Yes, the surgeon can inject fat graft back into the nose after harvesting it from another area in the body such as the abdomen or thighs. You should see an actual plastic surgeon (trained in plastic surgery residency and ideally aesthetic plastic fellowship) who specializes in rhinoplasty. Best of luck.

Hello! Sorry that you've had trouble with your rhinoplasty outcome. Thickness can be added back to the skin. This is typically done with temporalis fascia or rib perichondrium. Micro or nanofat can be added to provide stem cells and growth factors ideal for healing. The results can be quite nice if performed properly. I would seek consultation with a Facial Plastic Surgeon familiar with these techniques. Hope this helps!