A revision rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to correct undesired results or complications that arise after a previous rhinoplasty procedure (commonly called a nose job).
People seek revisions for a range of reasons, including:
- a tip that’s pinched, drooping, or too upturned
- a residual hump on the bridge of the nose
- a bridge that is overly scooped
- a crooked nose
- a collapsed nasal bridge (saddle nose deformity)
- excess fullness in the supratip area of the nose (pollybeak deformity)
- poor healing and/or excess scar tissue from a previous surgery
- nostril irregularities or asymmetries
- a hanging columella
- a nose that’s left too short, long, wide, or narrow
- valve collapse or other breathing problems
In most cases, the goal is to resolve nasal deformities left by a primary rhinoplasty by rebuilding the nasal tip or bridge of the nose. Surgery can also address breathing difficulties and nasal function by opening an obstructed nasal airway and reversing valve collapse, which typically requires cartilage grafts.
A second rhinoplasty is a relatively common plastic surgery procedure. According to a 2021 study, up to 15% of rhinoplasty surgeries are later revised, even if they were originally performed by an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon.
Revision surgery is always more complex than the initial procedure because of scar tissue, the unpredictability of secondary-scar healing, and potentially missing anatomical structure. Because revision surgeons work with altered tissues, they’re careful to set realistic expectations and emphasize that the goal of a revision rhinoplasty is improvement, not perfection.
At a revision rhinoplasty consultation, your surgeon should discuss the risks and outline realistic expectations for the kind of results they can achieve. Some use computer imaging, to help ensure they’re on the same page with a prospective patient about the desired result.
“Communication with your revision surgeon is critical to understand what you don’t like and what is even possible. Even the most skilled hands in the world cannot make a perfect nose,” says board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Anil Shah, who practices in Chicago.
They will also likely recommend giving your nose a year after your original surgery to fully heal before considering a revision rhinoplasty procedure.
RealSelf Tip: Consider returning to your original surgeon for a rhinoplasty revision, “assuming they’re capable of performing the surgery, which is usually more difficult than the original surgery,” says Dr. George Toledo, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas. “I revise my patients for free—with a small surgical facility and anesthesia fee, if needed.” However, if you have any doubts about their ability to correct your concerns, it's well worth finding a revision rhinoplasty specialist.
