Revision Rhinoplasty Boston

Many patients wait years for nose surgery. It is a very personable, often emotional procedure. For the most part, the results are life-changing. Some patients, however, are dissatisfied with their results and may wish to consider a revision rhinoplasty.

• What is Revision Rhinoplasty?
• Who Is a Good Candidate?
• Common Reasons for Revision Rhinoplasty
• Revision Rhinoplasty Techniques
• Cost of Revision Rhinoplasty in Boston
• Recovery From Revision Rhinoplasty 
• Contact

What is Revision Rhinoplasty?

Revision Rhinoplasty is performed on patients who have already undergone a rhinoplasty procedure but wish to have a revision to alter their nose as the initial surgery may have been unsuccessful or caused additional complications. Dr. Markarian helps solve his Boston Revision Rhinoplasty patient’s concerns with another rhinoplasty procedure aimed to fix any issues caused by their first surgery.

Studies have shown that up to 15% of rhinoplasty patients are left dissatisfied or with complications following their rhinoplasty procedure and so desire to undergo another revision rhinoplasty procedure. This is because rhinoplasty is an extremely complex procedure due to the fact that small changes to the size or angle of the nose can hugely impact someone’s facial appearance. Additionally, rhinoplasty procedures require alterations to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the patient’s nose, while also maintaining or enhancing nasal functioning.

Unfortunately, this leads to some rhinoplasty patients being left dissatisfied with their rhinoplasty procedure and desiring another procedure to either correct issues brought about by their first surgery or to achieve the results their surgery did not.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Factors that might make you a good candidate for a revision rhinoplasty procedure include:

• Are unhappy with the results of your rhinoplasty procedure
• Has been at least six months since you underwent rhinoplasty
• Have realistic expectations
• Are in good physical health
• Do not smoke

Common Reasons for Revision Rhinoplasty

The specific reasons why patients wish to undergo revision rhinoplasty vary depending on the results and goals of their first procedure. Some patients may merely wish to make subtle adjustments to further enhance the appearance of their nose, while others may have significant concerns resulting from their procedure. The types of concerns patients tend to have can be divided into two main categories of medical and aesthetic concerns that their rhinoplasty procedure caused.

Medical Concerns: 

• Breathing difficulties
• Weakened nasal structures
• Nasal valve collapse
• Not enough structural support 
• Sinus issues
• Since your surgery, you have experienced an injury or trauma to the nose

Aesthetic Concerns:

• Feel their nose is still too big 
• Nose was not straightened accurately
• Your nose looks unnatural
• The nose was reduced too much and looks disproportionate
• The technique used was not suitable for your specific needs and your nose doesn’t suit your face 
• Residual bumps may remain

Revision Rhinoplasty Techniques

The revision rhinoplasty technique will depend on the specific alterations that need to be made to correct the issues of the previous surgery. After having a rhinoplasty procedure performed the anatomy of the nose has been permanently changed and there will be differing amounts of scarring and scar tissue which can complicate the procedure.

Some revision rhinoplasty procedures are much easier to perform than others. For example, it is much easier to further reduce the size of the nose than it is to replace tissue when too much has been removed. If too much cartilage was removed in your initial procedure then a cartilage graft from your nasal structures or from your ears can be used to reshape and enhance the nose. Both open and closed rhinoplasty techniques can be used for rhinoplasty revision procedures. The most suitable method will depend on the extent of modifications you desire and Dr. Markarian will discuss the exact technique during your consultation.

If breathing issues have occurred as a result of rhinoplasty surgery then testing must be carried out to determine the extent of the issue and the specific cause. To fix breathing difficulties a graft of cartilage is often used to alter the structure of the nose.

Cost of Revision Rhinoplasty in Boston

Many patients ask whether a revision rhinoplasty in Boston will cost the same as their initial procedure. This hugely varies depending on the price of the patient’s initial surgery and the extent of revision that will be taking place. Generally, the price range for revision rhinoplasty will be similar to the cost of traditional rhinoplasty procedures or may be higher depending on the technique necessary. 

Insurance providers do not tend to cover any costs of rhinoplasty procedures that are performed for aesthetic reasons. However, revision rhinoplasty procedures may be covered by health insurance providers if they are performed to resolve breathing problems or other medical issues. Insurance companies greatly vary on what they will and will not cover so you should ask your individual provider to find out if you qualify for any coverage.

We typically work with these insurance providers:

• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
• Aetna
• CIGNA
• Blue Cross
• UnitedHealthcare
• Mass General Brigham Health Plan

Recovery From Revision Rhinoplasty 

The aftercare instructions and recovery advice will be similar to the advice from your original procedure. It is especially important that you follow all the instructions provided by Dr. Markarian as small details can impact your recovery process.

Immediately following the procedure your nose will be covered with a splint. A week after the surgery you will have an appointment with Dr. Markarian to have the splint removed. Swelling is a normal part of the recovery process and can prevent your final result from being visible for the first few weeks or months following your surgery.

The main difference in recovering from a second or revision rhinoplasty procedure is that the recovery period tends to be longer than for an initial rhinoplasty surgery. Typically it can take up to a year for initial rhinoplasty results to be fully visible, but for revision rhinoplasty, it can take up to 18 months or two years.

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