It is often said that a successful rhinoplasty, or nose job, requires a surgeon with a high level of both skill and artistry. Revision rhinoplasty is believed to be one of the most challenging and difficult cosmetic surgeries due to the depth and breadth of physical variables encountered with each individual patient. As a result, successful outcomes can only be obtained by a revision rhinoplasty specialist in northern NJ that has a high level of knowledge, extensive experience and properly applied skill and technique.

The difference between a nose that is corrected and properly restructured to match the patient’s other facial features versus an undesirable outcome is sometimes measured in a few millimeters or less. To complete a successful rhinoplasty, the plastic surgeon must begin with a thorough understanding of the patient’s wishes, existing physical attributes and the aesthetic/anatomical goals. Subsequently, the surgeon must have the ability to transform their existing nose into a new form that satisfies every objective.

Unfortunately, there are times when a surgeon’s experience, talent and techniques miss the mark. Many patients decide that they do not wish to live with their existing results and seek a revision rhinoplasty specialist in Bergen County New Jersey to revise or repair their nose.

The Importance of Your Nose

Your nose occupies the prominent and most visible location in the center of your face.  As such, it arguably has the most influence on your facial aesthetics and the overall attractiveness. Studies have shown that people respond favorably to straight symmetrical noses that are in proportion with the other features of the face.  An observer is perhaps unfairly drawn to the nose preferentially given their binocular vision and ability to focus on a solitary feature of your face.  Given the nose’s 3-dimensionality compared to other facial structures, it garners the observer’s attention particularly when it is prominent or has undesirable features. The observer is far more likely to notice the entire facial form or other features in particular when your nose does not distract them.

In addition to being highly visible, the nose plays an essential role in breathing and air humidification. The size and shape of the septum can play an essential role in nasal aesthetics as well as air flow. Septal deformities that occur naturally, by trauma or prior surgery can cause obligate oral breathing, enhance snoring, make exercise, conversation, and eating difficult as well as have an effect on your voice. Air that is inhaled through your nostrils is warmed, moistened, and filtered in your nasal cavities by the turbinates before it goes to the lungs. A poorly executed rhinoplasty can jeopardize or damage these important functions of the nose.

What Went Wrong During My Rhinoplasty?

The most common negative problems patients experience from a suboptimal rhinoplasty include displeasure with nasal aesthetics, difficulty breathing, whistling noises when they inhale, exhale or both. It is not uncommon for patients who undergo surgery for a deviated septum, known as a septoplasty, to require an additional surgery to fully remedy their condition. or address issues of appearance that were not considered fully at the time.

Common complaints regarding the lackluster aesthetics of a bad nose job include:

  • Over-resection or under-resection of the nasal dorsum (‘ski-slope’ or ‘hump’)
  • Overly/upwardly rotated and unsightly tip
  • Failure to address nasal tip definition, rotation or projection
  • Nostril imbalance
  • Nasal bones/width that are too skeletonized or wide
  • Improperly placed grafts
  • Scarification
  • Asymmetry

It is important that you find a skilled revision rhinoplasty specialist in Bergen County who can accurately identify the problems and issues that have arose as a result of your original rhinoplasty, and develop a comprehensive plan that satisfies each objective.

How Can My Rhinoplasty Be Corrected?

Despite the swelling and scar formation that occurs normally in rhinoplasty, you should be happy with your results immediately after surgery when your splint comes off.  Many of the changes that have taken place should be evident to you including the size and shape of the dorsum (most evident in profile), nasal width and the overall orientation of the tip. You may require cortisone injections after surgery to help with the swelling that occurs primarily in the nasal tip. If you are unhappy with the results of your rhinoplasty, you should generally wait at least 6 months for all of the swelling to go down and your nose to settle. This will also allow any additional deformities/asymmetries that were previously undetectable to become visible. Although you typically have to wait several months for surgery, you should seek a consultation with a revision rhinoplasty specialist in Passaic County if you are extremely unhappy.

Although secondary nose surgery can differ greatly from your preliminary rhinoplasty, the scope of the recovery is usually about the same. A revision rhinoplasty or nasal reconstruction will often present the surgeon with an entirely new set of challenges, and you may find that your goals have changed as well. This means that an even greater degree of exacting precision will be required to achieve the best results.

There are several techniques and procedures that may need to be utilized to repair and enhance your nose. A closed rhinoplasty is conducted without causing any external scarring, and has a relatively brief healing period. An open technique is more commonly required for revision rhinoplasty and can result in a somewhat more prolonged healing time.

Depending on the amount of tissue that has been removed and the various structures of the nose, a revision rhinoplasty may require using autologous tissues harvested from the patient’s own body. These might include cartilage (septum, ear, rib), bone or skin/fat.

Because of the numerous factors involved, there are certain patients who may not benefit from a revision rhinoplasty. However, in most cases a skilled and dedicated revision rhinoplasty specialist in northern New Jersey can improve a patient’s outcome.

Finding the Top Revision Rhinoplasty Specialist in NJ

It is common for patients seeking a revision rhinoplasty to feel apprehensive and nervous about selecting a new surgeon, as a result of their previous experience. For this reason it is extremely important that revision rhinoplasty candidates seek out a surgeon who specializes in reconstructive surgery and has a caring and compassionate bedside manner.

The best revision rhinoplasty surgeons have a long history as effective aesthetic and reconstructive specialists. There are three important attributes that these surgeons must possess. First, your surgeon must have expert technique and skills in reconstructive surgery particularly as it pertains to the nose. Second, they should possess an in-depth knowledge and extensive practical experience in aesthetic surgery of the nose. Finally, the surgeon must have an ongoing dedication to their patients’ complete satisfaction. This will help ensure they can provide the outstanding results you deserve in your revisionary rhinoplasty.

Most importantly, although you may be tempted to try to fix your nose as quickly as possible, a patient seeking a revision rhinoplasty must take the time to find a revision rhinoplasty specialist in New Jersey that they can trust. In addition to using innovative techniques and extraordinary skills, a revision rhinoplasty specialist should be able to listen to your issues and desires and successfully translate them into the best nose for you.

revision rhinoplasty NJ

Dr. Winters

About Dr. Winters

Dr. Winters specializes in primary, revision, reconstructive, functional and teenage rhinoplasty surgeries. Dr. Winters is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and maintains active memberships in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery and others.