Revision Rhinoplasty

When the implant has bent

If the implant bends or changes shape over time, we realign it in a revision surgery.

When your bridge was crooked to begin with

We remove the implant and straighten the crooked nose. We also treat a deviated septum at the same time.

When your bridge is too high

If your bridge is too high for your face and people can tell you have had surgery, we remove the implant. We replace it with one at a height that suits your face.

We balance the height of the bridge with the line of the tip to create a natural-looking nose.

When your tip is too high

We remove the implant in your tip and replace it with septal cartilage, ear cartilage, AlloDerm (acellular dermis) or similar materials.

We reshape the tip so it looks natural and suits your bridge. If needed, we revise the bridge as well.

When your tip has collapsed

If your previous surgery did not build a structure to support the tip, the tip gradually collapses over time.

In this case, we rebuild the tip with septal cartilage, which is soft yet strong, or with artificial bone and similar materials.

When your tip has become bulbous

The tip can end up round and large if the first surgery left too much fat under the skin, or used a wide cartilage graft.

We remove the fat under the skin, leaving only as much as the tip needs. We then graft a narrower piece of cartilage for a slimmer, natural tip.

When the implant is not secured

An implant should sit under the periosteum, the layer that covers the nasal bone. If it was placed just under the skin instead, nothing holds it and it moves.

In this case, we create a pocket under the periosteum and place the implant there again.

When the skin has thinned

An implant that is too thick, or that does not fit the contour of your nasal bone, can thin the skin over it. The implant may then show through, or the bridge may turn red. If you notice redness, it is important to see a specialist and get treatment early.

If the skin has thinned, we readjust the length and height of the implant. We reinforce the tip with ear cartilage, AlloDerm (acellular dermis) or similar materials.

When your nostrils are distorted

The tip and the sides of the nostrils sink inward, so the nostril openings look pinched shut. This happens when the alar cartilage has been badly damaged or cut.

We correct the distorted nostrils with surgery that reshapes the alar cartilage.

When your nostrils are uneven

This happens when nostrils that were uneven before surgery were not corrected, or when surgery upset the balance between the septal and alar cartilage.

We even out the difference with surgery that reshapes the alar cartilage.

When inflammation develops after surgery

Inflammation after nose surgery is rare. It can happen, though, if the implant does not suit your body or an infection develops for another reason. Inflammation from a hematoma (collected blood) that lingers after surgery is a particular concern. It can cause pain, pus inside the nose and bleeding. See a specialist early, as a revision will be needed.

We first treat the inflammation, then remove the implant. We rebuild the nose with your own rib cartilage or septal cartilage instead. Because these come from your own body, rejection is less likely.

Contracted nose

A contracted nose is one of the more serious complications of rhinoplasty, and it is relatively difficult to treat.

It happens when inflammation after nose surgery is left untreated in the early stages, or after repeated surgeries. Scar tissue forms inside the nose, hardens and shrinks. The tip may turn up or the nose may get shorter, or the implant may be squeezed and the nose distorted.