REVISION RHINOPLASTY SPECIALIST
New York, NY: I just launched a new site dedicated to Revision Rhinoplasty. I feel it is important to educate the public about a number of common issues that come up when discussing this topic and will be addressing these issues in my next few blogs:
- Why do so many patients seek revision rhinoplasty?
- What are the most common complaints patients considering revision surgery have?
- What went wrong in the first place that may necessitate revision surgery?
- Why don’t patients go back to their original surgeon for revision surgery?
Rhinoplasty is considered to be the most difficult procedure in cosmetic surgery. The specific steps may seem easy to an un-initiated surgeon, but to a surgeon who has extensive experience with the procedure like myself, no nose is simple or should be fixed in a “standard,” one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter fashion. This is the first step in getting into trouble. Each patient needs to be addressed as an individual and not categorized, then treated in a routine fashion.
The Rhinoplasty procedure has also evolved more than most other procedures over the past 3 decades, and may do so even more over the next few years… which is why it is imperative a true rhinoplasty surgeon be a student of the procedure. When I go to meetings, I see the most respected surgeons sitting in the first few rows scribbling notes more furiously than anyone else. This is how they got on top and continue to stay that way. I find that teaching and lecturing on this topic also forces me to stay on top of all new innovations – good or bad – so that I am able to address any and all questions posed by young surgeons seeking guidance.
Not every patient will be happy with their results. The published statistics of patients unhappy with their revision surgery is 5 to 15%, and are provided by the more active and knowledgeable surgeons. So if they have rates from 5 to 15%, imagine what is happening to the doctors who don’t publish? But to make you feel less uncomfortable, at least in my practice, most patients who do have revision are getting minor tweaks. They commonly report that they “love” their nose but have a tiny irregularity or bump that can be taken care of in a simple way.
I will continue to review revision rhinoplasty in my next blog. For more information and before and after photos, please see the articles on revision rhinoplasty posted on my website, www.mdface.com/blog, as well as the new website www.Revisionrhinoplastyny.com
