The goal of revision rhinoplasty is a natural-looking, fully functional nose that is a good fit for a person’s face. Rhinoplasties are very difficult, even in primary cases, and therefore require excellent analysis and planning.
All rhinoplasty surgeons are aware of the changes that occur with time to a nose, and do their best to predict your expected outcome. However, because of the complexity of rhinoplasty surgery, it may not be possible to accomplish all goals with a single surgery.
Depending on what was done previously, a nose may need to be revised in order to achieve both form (nasal aesthetics) and function (breathing). This raises the question: “How long do I have to wait before I can have revision surgery on my nose?”
In order to answer that question, it’s important that you first understand the reasons that revision rhinoplasty is necessary.
How Many Revision Rhinoplasty Surgeries is Too Many?
There are many factors that determine whether or not a patient is a good candidate for revision rhinoplasty. There should be a careful analysis of the patient’s nose including photographs. A discussion of the expectations for surgery also needs to take place.
Other considerations include:
- Number of prior nasal surgeries
- Quality and characteristics of the patient’s nasal skin
- Nasal framework
- Amount of scar tissue present
- Extent of deformities caused by post-surgical healing
- Risk/reward ratio for correcting problems from the first surgery without causing new ones
These are all factors that must be addressed on an individual basis in a one-on-one consultation with an experienced facial plastic surgeon who specialises in revision rhinoplasty.
How Long After Rhinoplasty Can I Have A Revision?
Each case is different, and waiting for the nose to heal fully is wise. Postponing revision surgery for 12 months is the standard approach. However, patients have been revised in the first 4-6 months following a failed rhinoplasty with excellent surgical results.
Here is the most important thing to keep in mind.
While you are waiting to schedule your revision rhinoplasty, your nose will gradually and continually change. As the waiting period comes to a close, you may be surprised to discover that the results are to your liking, and revision is not needed. If that doesn’t turn out to be the case, the decision to re-operate should be made jointly by you and your surgeon after careful consideration of the risk factors and prospects for improvement.
A knowledgeable and experienced revision rhinoplasty surgeon can usually determine the appropriate time for a successful revision rhinoplasty.