How to Chose The Best Revision Rhinoplasty Surgeon
It’s a shocking statistic, but every year in the U.S., upwards of 30,000 people require revision rhinoplasty to fix a botched nose job.
Primary rhinoplasty, or your first rhinoplasty, is a tricky enough procedure. Revision rhinoplasty, on the other hand, poses an entirely different set of challenges to your surgeon.
In this blog, we explain why revision rhinoplasty is such a complicated procedure. Because of this, it is critical to your rhinoplasty success that you choose your revision rhinoplasty surgeon very carefully.
Here, the team at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg gives you a step-by-step checklist you should follow when deciding on your revision rhinoplasty surgeon.
First, let us re-cap why revision rhinoplasty requires extensive expertise in facial anatomy and superior surgical skill.
Modified Structure, Scarring, and Tissue Strength
When performing a primary rhinoplasty, surgeons know what to expect because they know the structure of a typical human nose. In revision rhinoplasty surgery, this is no longer the case, as the bone structure, nasal cavities, soft tissues and cartilage of the nose have been modified in the initial rhinoplasty procedure. This could present challenges to rhinoplasty surgeons, who must react quickly and correctly when presented with unforeseen complications arising during a revision rhinoplasty procedure.
The modified structure of a previously rhinoplasty-d nose also means the tissue and bones are weaker, making it more difficult for a surgeon to produce safe, effective results when performing a revision rhinoplasty.
Surgeons will also need to harvest cartilage from other parts of the body during revision rhinoplasty, as the preferred donor site of the septum is used in the initial rhinoplasty procedure.
For these reasons, it takes a highly experienced, confident, and specialized plastic surgeon to take on any revision rhinoplasty jobs successfully. To adequately prepare yourself to have a successful revision rhinoplasty procedure, you should follow the following advice.
Prepare Yourself
Do Your Own Research
By equipping yourself with knowledge about the procedure, you give yourself the best opportunity at finding an excellent surgeon.
It is essential that you understand the complications and difficulties associated with revision rhinoplasty so that you can take choosing your surgeon seriously. Look through our blog, and also look at other credible websites such as The American Society of Plastic Surgeons to fully understand what occurs during your revision rhinoplasty.
Set Realistic Expectations
Identifying the aesthetic you wish for, and aiming for a realistic goal are other important parts of successful revision rhinoplasty. Once you do this, you can approach specialized surgeons and seek their guidance and services in helping you achieve the nose that you want.
Have a List of Questions Ready for Your Consultation
Before you go into any consultation room, you should prepare a list of questions to ask your surgeon. Important questions include:
- How many years have you been a practicing surgeon?
- How many revision rhinoplasty procedures have you performed?
- Do you have a gallery of patient photos I can examine?
- Do you have any testimonials of past patients?
These four questions are straightforward, and help you directly assess the aptitude of the surgeon you are vetting for your procedure.
Vet the Surgeon
Ultimately, the choice of who does your revision rhinoplasty rests in your hands. As such, you will want to properly screen every surgeon you consult to do your rhinoplasty.
Ensure they are Board Certified
Many practicing surgeons do not meet the high standards required to achieve certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. YOU MUST INSIST THAT YOUR REVISION RHINOPLASTY IS CERTIFIED BY THIS BODY.
While this doesn’t guarantee specialized experience, this certification guarantees a high level of proficiency and practicing standards.
Make Sure Revision Rhinoplasty is one of their Top Three Surgeries
When you demand that revision surgery is a top three of your surgeons’ procedures, it gives you an excellent chance of finding a revision rhinoplasty specialist.
Closely Examines the Surgeon’s Gallery
Perusing photos of the surgeons’ past results can give you an excellent idea of what to expect. You can find patients of your own ethnicity and similar facial structures and get a good idea of how the surgeon works with a canvas such as the one you present.
Choosing a revision rhinoplasty surgeon should not be rushed. You should at least discuss the procedure and look to find a surgeon who instills you with confidence regarding the procedure.
The expert team at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg encourages you to contact them and ask these exact questions and look at our rhinoplasty gallery.