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A poorly-performed rhinoplasty can lead to both cosmetic and functional problems that require revision surgery. If you have had a prior nose job and are unhappy with the result, whether a minor problem with size, shape, or appearance, or a very serious flaw, the Few Institute for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery can help you have the nose you wanted with a revision rhinoplasty in Chicago.

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What is Revision Rhinoplasty?

Revision rhinoplasty is a surgery to correct errors or flaws resulting from a primary nose reshaping surgery. At the Few Institute, our board-certified Chicago plastic surgeon, Dr. Julius Few is known as a leading nose revision surgeon, and often called upon to correct a primary rhinoplasty, whether to resolve a minor cosmetic issue or to correct a botched nose job. The various problems that may require a revision rhinoplasty include:

  • Obstructed breathing
  • Uneven result
  • Too large
  • Too small
  • Collapsed nose structure
  • Asymmetrical
  • Unnatural in appearance

Revision Rhinoplasty FAQs

How is a Revision Rhinoplasty Performed?

What Incisions are Required for a Revision Rhinoplasty?

Why Choose Dr. Few?

How is a Revision Rhinoplasty Performed?

A revision rhinoplasty can be a highly-complex procedure, or a simple correction, based upon what happened. The surgery can require up to four hours to complete in some cases. The problems you are experiencing with the look or function of your nose must be fully evaluated, and a custom surgical plan developed. In cases of a collapse due to lack of proper structuring in the initial surgery, cartilage may need to be added or removed, depending upon your individual case.

What Incisions are Required for a Revision Rhinoplasty?

Most often, an “open” rhinoplasty is required, with an incision placed beneath the nose structure on the thin strip of tissue between the nostrils. This is likely the location of the incision in the primary rhinoplasty. This incision location allows for greater access to rebuild, reshape, or restructure the nose. For minor cosmetic revisions, a “closed” rhinoplasty may be all that is needed, with incisions within the nostrils.

Why Choose Dr. Few?

Dr. Few is a highly-accomplished, gifted plastic surgeon. Restoring the nose in a revision surgery is one of the more difficult of all facial plastic surgery procedures and should only be performed by a plastic surgeon with experience and top-level surgical skills. Dr. Few is an active researcher and involved in advancing the art of plastic surgery. His devotion to his craft and his care for his patients makes him the ideal choice if you need a revision rhinoplasty in Chicago.

What Should I Expect in a Revision Rhinoplasty?

Preparing for your surgery is similar to what you experienced with the original surgery. You will be provided with all the pre-operative information you need so when you arrive at our private out-patient surgery center there are no surprises. The surgery itself will be performed under anesthesia, typically local along with intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia.

You will not experience any discomfort during the surgery, which can vary in length, based upon the corrections you will require to restore your nose. For some revision rhinoplasty procedures, cartilage may be harvested from another body area, possibly from ear or rib. This may be necessary in cases in which the nose structure has collapsed.

What Is The Recovery From A Revision Rhinoplasty?

You can expect the recovery to be similar to your original experience. Swelling and bruising is to be expected, along with a stuffy nose sensation for several days following your procedure. As the days pass, your corrected nose will settle into place. Dr. Few will be carefully monitoring your progress and will evaluate how your recovery is progressing to ensure all goes as it should. Plan on missing a week or two of work to focus upon healing and recovery. Eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, avoiding any alcoholic beverages, and limiting your physical activities all aid in a speedier recovery.

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Primary Rhinoplasty: How Did It Go Wrong?

Any surgical procedure carries some risk, and the original surgeon may or may not be responsible for what occurred in your case. Some common complications can arise that must be surgically corrected, including:

  • Polly-beak: A post-operative deformity in which the nasal tip projects downwards, with an excess prominence of the area of the nose directly above the nose tip.
  • Nasal tip: If the bridge above the tip has not been correctly reshaped, the nose tip can appear unnatural, either too short, too long, drooping, pinched, uneven, or pointed.
  • Misshapen nostrils: The nostrils can collapse if too much of the nose tip was removed, or the columella (strip of tissue between the nostrils) may case the nostrils to retract if too much tissue supporting the nose tip was surgically removed in the primary surgery.
  • Profile deformity: When a bump on the bridge of the nose has been lift without properly smoothing bone and cartilage, the nose bridge can have a scooped appearance.
  • Loss of septal support: When the center of the nose structure has collapsed due to a surgeon failing to ensure there was sufficient cartilage supporting the reshaped nose.
  • Nostril collapse: When the nose structure lacks support after restructuring the nostrils, one or both nostrils can collapse, affecting breathing and appearance.

Are You a Candidate for Revision Rhinoplasty?

If you had a rhinoplasty and are unhappy with the appearance or function of your nose, you are probably a candidate for a revision rhinoplasty in Chicago. Very minor issues may have the possibility of correction that doesn’t involve surgery, such as the use of a dermal filler – but those corrections fade with time. The first step is to meet with Dr. Few, so he can evaluate the current condition of your nose and advise you about what needs to be done to create a natural looking nose – that suits your facial structure.

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Ethnic Rhinoplasty and Revision Rhinoplasty

If you had what is commonly termed an “ethnic rhinoplasty” that requires revision, there is no better plastic surgeon to meet with than Dr. Few. He is a highly-skilled plastic surgeon who performs custom ethnic rhinoplasty that respects your ethnic background, with subtle, beautiful results. Whether your background is African American, Hispanic, Persian, or other background, you want your results of the second surgery to achieve the goals you originally set for yourself when choosing to undergo nose reshaping.

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Taking The Next Step

Undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure is a major step towards improving your appearance, and will require significant planning. The first phase of your cosmetic journey will be to meet with Dr. Few in the privacy and comfort of his plastic surgery offices so he can examine your nose, review your medical records, and begin to formulate a plan for a revision rhinoplasty in Chicago.

Dr. Few will provide you with access to our extensive library of before and after photography so that you can see some of the outstanding results he has been able to deliver to clients of all ages and backgrounds.

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