After having had a primary (first-time) nose job, finding that your new nose is not what you had wanted is never a satisfying feeling. It is, however, a problem that Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, a Florida rhinoplasty specialist, sees regularly. In fact, of the 12 to 16 rhinoplasties he performs in a month, one-third of them are revision rhinoplasties. Before scheduling a revision rhinoplasty, you should take the following items under consideration.
Never Rush a Revision Rhinoplasty
Do not rush into a revision rhinoplasty. If you had your first nose surgery just a few months ago, you could still be seeing some swelling. It can take up to a year for all swelling to subside. Dr. Epstein recommends waiting at least eight months before scheduling a consultation at South Florida Rhinoplasty.
Revision Rhinoplasty is One of the Most Difficult Surgical Procedures
Revision rhinoplasty is a very complex procedure, usually more challenging than a first-time procedure. Facial plastic surgeons face such problems that may include a lack of underlying support, irregularities of the bone and/or cartilage, and scar tissue from the first procedure.
It is impossible for a rhinoplasty surgeon to know exactly what the bone and cartilage and other tissues beneath the skin look like until the revision surgery is begun and full visualization is provided. Dr. Epstein uses the open approach during revision rhinoplasty to have the best view of the nose’s underlying structure.
Grafts may be necessary to add stability if there is not enough cartilage to create the shape you desire. If needed, Dr. Epstein uses either cartilage harvested from ideally the nasal septum or occasionally the ear.
Do Not Feel Pressured Into Returning to the Same Rhinoplasty Surgeon
Some rhinoplasty specialists lack experience in revision rhinoplasty. Others decline to even perform them. If you are planning a revision procedure, you may be better off looking for a facial plastic surgeon with experience in revision rhinoplasty.
Your choices may not be as extensive, but you likely want to choose a surgeon who has been performing these surgeries regularly, with documentation through a large selection of pictures and videos you can view to see the quality of the work. Dr. Epstein has more than two decades of experience in the field and has many revision rhinoplasty before and after pictures available for viewing.
Take Time to Look Over and Comment on Digital Images
Communication is a big part of relaying exactly what you do and do not like with your new nose. Dr. Epstein examines the nose and then listens to the patient’s goals. After approximately two days, he completes his digital images of the changes he anticipates making, which are then emailed to you.
At this point, you need to carefully look over the changes and make comments on the things you like and anything you still dislike. Just remember that there is no way to guarantee that the final results will be an exact match to the digital images, but a surgeon of Dr. Epstein’s experience is able to come quite close- with his goal being to exceed the image views.
Do Not Expect the Healing Process to be the Same as the First Time
After your first rhinoplasty, the quality of the skin changes. This alters the way your nose heals during a revision rhinoplasty. Slow healing is not uncommon, but not a major problem as long as you can be patient. Allow your nose at least three to six months before expecting to see refinement, and for redness and swelling to dissipate.
Read some of the most common rhinoplasty questions patients ask Dr. Epstein. By going into a revision rhinoplasty with realistic expectations and a good understanding of the surgery, you’re more likely to get the results you want. When you’re ready to schedule a consultation with the Miami facial plastic surgeon, call (305) 666-5884.
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