I get the opportunity to see how profoundly secondary rhinoplasty affects patients quite often in my northern NJ practice and it makes me so glad I chose to be a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in NJ.
Meeting new patients daily and helping them achieve the more-attractive look they want (and/or the proper breathing they need) is…well it’s a great gig.
Over the past decade and more, I’ve had the privilege of seeing and helping bring about an amazing transformation in patients’ lives, through primary rhinoplasty, revision or second rhinoplasty, and even reconstructive nose jobs on victims of accidents, birth defects or rhinoplasty complications.
A big life change and major relief often comes when my patients learn that they have excellent options to repair or change a nose that has caused them distraction (or sometimes devastation) in their lives.
What Makes Rhinoplasty (even Primary Rhinoplasty) Challenging for Your Plastic Surgeon?
Rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult-to-perform and exacting of all aesthetic surgeries. Many plastic surgeons will avoid offering nose jobs.
Even among rhinoplasty surgeons, there are but a few who do complex reconstructive nasal surgery. Many plastic surgeons don’t get into this type of surgery because it’s a challenge to excel in rhinoplasty.
It’s a challenge partly because the evidence of your surgical work sits right in the middle of the patients’ face. Even further complexity is involved because, even when a patient only wants a small bump removed, the surgeon must strengthen the whole delicate structure of the nose and breathing function must always be preserved or enhanced.
When your surgeon performs revision rhinoplasty (a second rhinoplasty surgery) in that same delicate area of the body, things are naturally more complicated. Even on the biggest guy, the male patient’s nasal anatomy is a delicate structure.
It consists of arches and tunnels of cartilage and bone surrounded by soft tissue, which can be easily damaged. A second surgery, on any part of the body that has been previously operated upon, gains complexity. That’s because your NJ rhinoplasty surgeon is dealing with already traumatized tissues and scar tissue.
Secondary Rhinoplasty: Why is it so Complex?
Revision rhinoplasty to correct problems not fixed in the primary nose job (or new problems brought on by that first rhinoplasty surgery) requires meticulous and careful technique.
These skills and deep anatomical knowledge are honed over years in practice as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. In a second rhinoplasty, your revision rhinoplasty specialist also needs quick, accurate judgment to handle previously damaged nerves and tissue. (Damaged nerves can lead to numbness and impaired function in any area of the body.)
In most cases, a graft is needed to shore up inadequate cartilage left from the first surgery. Successful grafting must be sturdy and strong.
Surgeons must avoid excessive damage to the blood supply of the nose to ensure proper healing and healthy skin. (All of your body’s tissues need adequate blood supply, bringing them nutrients and oxygen, to survive.) And, of course, everything about the nose must look smooth and elegant.
In the hands of a skilled, experienced revision rhinoplasty specialist, consistently great results can be expected.
The Right Surgeon Makes a Big Difference
As you can see, you must choose your NJ-area surgeon carefully when considering a second rhinoplasty. A true rhinoplasty expert will help ensure that the complicated surgery is planned thoroughly and handled skillfully for the quickest healing possible and a stellar outcome.
If complications occur, as they sometimes do in a complicated case, an expert rhinoplasty surgeon will know how best to deal with it, to produce the very best outcome for you. We work hard to get that smile that will be coming after splint removal, in a week or so!
Second Rhinoplasty: Enhancing Form and Function
With revision rhinoplasty, it’s never “just” about aesthetics, it’s about both of the crucial aspects: the cosmetic enhancement and breathing function. Both outcomes must be superb for a successful surgery and happy patient.
I take these responsibilities very seriously with all my patients and I’m not happy until they are. I truly enjoy helping patients by providing information about options, providing expert advice and helping to improve lives.
Even if patients never have surgery, (occasionally it’s just not the right choice or the right time for some) – even then, I love helping patients learn about their possibilities and options. No matter what, they have taken a step forward in their journey.
After the Surgery and the Splint – the Smile!
There’s really nothing like seeing the smile on a patient’s face when their splint comes off soon after the second rhinoplasty, correcting problems with the first. Many patients have lost hope and may even feel betrayed by their first plastic surgeon.
Others are skeptical, feeling that their nose can never be repaired or ever be attractive. Even though patients are still swollen when the splint is removed (it’s just a few days after surgery), the results of the second rhinoplasty are evident – and the smiles are amazing.
Your Second Rhinoplasty: Scheduling a No-Charge Consultation in Bergen County
If I can help change your outlook and provide options to improve your nose or repair damages or defects, I’d like to meet you. I offer no-charge cosmetic consultations for any prospective new patient who needs an expert opinion and is considering having a second rhinoplasty in NJ.
When you schedule a consultation at Cohen/Winters Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery, my staff and I will analyze your situation and provide information to help you determine the surgical possibilities.
If you’re a good surgical candidate, no matter how complex your nasal problems may be, I’ll partner with you to create your new, improved nose.
If it’s time to make a change in your life, if you’re considering a second rhinoplasty (revision rhinoplasty) or reconstructive rhinoplasty, I urge you to contact my offices in Bergen County and learn your options.
