Can The Changes Done In My Rhinoplasty Be Reversed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a septorhinoplasty done late last year and I just don’t like the way it looks now. I didn’t know that my bridge would be built up to be higher and more prominent. I went in to just have a septoplasty to try and help me breathe better. The doctor suggested that my bridge be changed and the tip narrowed a bit, both changes which I now regret. I used to have a nice slope to my nose before and it looks so different that the bridge is so high. Do you think this could be just swelling? Is there any way to reverse these nose changes?

A: It is extremely common for the outer appearance of the nose to be changed at the same time that the internal breathing function (septoplasty and turbinates) is being improved. While plastic surgeons may suggest these changes in the patient who just appears for breathing problems, such recommendations are often welcomed very enthusiastically. The convenience of having both nose issues addressed simultaneously is obviously appealing…provided that one does have some real concerns about their nose appearance and they are very clear on what is going to be done. It appears you now have some early ‘buyer’s remorse’. This could be premature regret since it has only been a few months from surgery and swelling is most certainly present. It may also be that you did not have a clear understanding of what the objectives of the rhinoplasty were. This could have been avoided by computer imaging analysis before surgery. While you may have a rhinoplasty revision to try and reverse some of these changes,it is too early to consider that now. You should give your nose up to a full year after surgery for all swelling to go away and you to adapt to the new look. It could very be how you feel now may change at this time next year.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana