A revision or secondary rhinoplasty surgery is undergone by those who may not be happy with the cosmetic result of their initial rhinoplasty or nose job.
Before opting for a revision rhinoplasty, all the details including possible risks or complications must be discussed with the surgeon. A revision rhinoplasty must be performed by an experienced surgeon who has profound understanding of the nasal structure and surgical techniques.
Dr. Pope is actually considered one of the area’s most renowned nasal plastic surgeons. In fact, many doctors often refer their rhinoplasty patients to him during difficult cases or when performing rhinoplasty work on family members.
The procedure for a revision rhinoplasty depends on the deformities or breathing problem caused by the previous surgery. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia (the total duration may be up to 3 or 4 hours). The revisionist surgeon has to restore both structure and function. In few cases, the surgeon may have to recreate symmetry by adding back or removing a previously inserted cartilage. If required, extra cartilage can be taken from the nasal septum, ear, or ribs. Adding extra cartilage is often required to open the airway or to recreate the shape and proportion of nose.
The incisions for a revision rhinoplasty may be made on the inside of the nose for a closed rhinoplasty or on the underside, between the nostrils, in case of an open rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty is usually less invasive to tissues as the surgeon only uncovers the areas that need correction. The open rhinoplasty involves a wider cut and more work on supporting structures. The closed approach is safe if the patient has scarring from the previous surgery but many plastic surgeons choose the open approach as it provides more exposure and helps to understand complicated cases in a better way.
Nasal packs may be used for 7-8 hours to reduce the swelling and bleeding after surgery. The patient, however, cannot breathe through the nose until the packing is removed and should stay in the hospital during that time. The surgeon prescribes painkillers to reduce the discomfort. During the recovery period, the nose must not be rubbed and adequate bed rest must be taken with the head elevated on a comfortable pillow. The patients can return to normal activity after 2 to 3 weeks. The results of the surgery become visible in 3 to 4 months, once the swelling subsides completely.
At Pope Plastic Surgery, we have state-of- the-art facilities for all kinds of plastic surgery treatments. Dr. George Pope is a highly regarded plastic surgeon, certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery and has been practicing cosmetic surgery in Orlando for more than 20 years.
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