Question:
What are some of the most common reasons for revision rhinoplasty?
Answer:
The primary reason for revision rhinoplasty is a previous overaggressive rhinoplasty where the surgeon has excised too much cartilage from the nose. This is very common in patients who come in with a large nose desiring a smaller, more refined nose. In this situation, many surgeons will perform overaggressive resections of the nasal tip cartilage which will subsequently lead to problems with nasal obstruction, nasal collapse and unsightly deformities of the nose. In thick-skinned patients, often times the nose will become amorphous, asymmetric, ptotic, and collapsed. In patients with extremely thin skin, the nostrils may retract or lift up which would expose the inside of the nose more, the side walls of the tip will collapse, the tip of the nose will elevate in an unsightly fashion and, basically, the patient will have the appearance of a very “fake rhinoplasty” or “surgical rhinoplasty.” So, in summary, an aggressive rhinoplasty is what causes a revision in rhinoplasty.
