Revision Rhinoplasty

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a revision rhinoplasty. I have had rhinoplasty one year ago. I got the results for what I asked for, my nose was straightened and the hump was reduced. My tip was never corrected as I was told by my doctor there was not need for it. It really seems to bother me and I would like it corrected. Would this be classified as a revision rhinoplasty surgery and would it be more harder to perform then the first surgery?

A: I am going to assume that your original rhinoplasty was done by an open approach. Secondary tip work would be no harder to perform now than during the first surgery. The scar tissue that is present would pose no issues for doing secondary degloving and tip work. Preoperative computer imaging may have been able to show whether tip work as needed.

If your original surgeon performed the tip rhinoplasty it may be considered a revision. But this would certainly not apply to a new surgeon performing the procedure. For the new surgeon this is a new procedure for which he/she has no obligation stemming from the prior rhinoplasty. An isolated tip rhinoplasty is, however, less costly than a full or complete rhinoplasty.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana