Revision Rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty or “nose job” is one of the most commonly requested facial surgeries and one of Dr. Shapiro’s favorite surgical procedures to perform. If you have had nasal surgery that did not produce the results you wanted, or has resulted in breathing difficulty, Dr. Shapiro, a Scottsdale revision rhinoplasty specialist, may be for you. Dr. Shapiro does not believe in a “one procedure fits all” style of surgery, so he will work with you to develop the ideal nose that brings harmony and balance to your face while maintaining your ‘unique’ look.

Because the nose is such a critical component of someone’s face, it is important that a rhinoplasty be expertly performed with results that not only meet but exceed a patient’s expectations. The proper nose should be proportional to the rest of the face, and should complement other features ultimately accentuating the cheekbones, eyes, and lips without bringing undue attention to the nose itself.

Revision Rhinoplasty Consultations

Dr. Shapiro, a Scottsdale plastic surgeon, understands that a patient seeking revision rhinoplasty will be seen disappointed with their previous experience, nervous and emotional. He will work gently with you to determine what the last surgeon has done, usually with the assistance of previous operative notes, and will explain exactly what he can do to revise your nasal surgery and what results you can expect. He always takes photographs at the time of consultation so that they can be computer imaged and reviewed with the patient to ensure doctor-patient communication. Also, Dr. Shapiro encourages patients to provide photographs from magazines to further illustrate the kind of nose you are looking for.

Revision Rhinoplasty Procedure

Surgical treatment will depend upon exactly what the problem is. In a nose that appears distorted or uneven in the tip, generally nasal cartilages have to be manipulated and enhanced with cartilage grafts generally taken from inside the nose. This also applies to noses where too much cartilage was taken out, which unfortunately is a very common problem. In other cases, the nose may still appear too large after the original rhinoplasty, and this may be due to excess bone and or cartilage that needs to be modified, or scar tissue that needs to be removed. Also, a bony hump can persist after a rhinoplasty, and Dr. Shapiro, a Scottsdale revision rhinoplasty specialist, will take down the hump or narrow the nasal bones to produce a much more refined and elegant appearing nose.

After the first rhinoplasty, some patients experience difficulty breathing and this is due to internal collapse of the bone or cartilage that make up the nasal air passages. This condition can be remedied by placing internal cartilage grafts or modifying the nasal bones to produce a larger internal canal for breathing while not modifying the external appearance of the nose, should the patient be happy with the way the nose looks.

Revision Rhinoplasty Results

After revision rhinoplasty surgery, patients return home. Nasal packing is usually removed in our Scottsdale area office the day after surgery, but in certain cases where internal work is performed, packing may need to remain for 5-7 days. Sutures and external nasal splints are removed a week after surgery to reveal the new nose. Rare bruising beneath the eyes generally disappears by a week, and patients experience little to no pain from the procedure. Final results often take 12-18 months to fully appear.