Many people believe that they can tell a “nose job” whenever they see someone who has had nasal surgery. They are, however, under a misconception. The overwhelming majority of men and women who have had their noses surgically altered look real and natural. Their surgery is undetectable. However, there are cases in which the nose appears unnatural or “surgical”. Obviously, it is best to avoid this unfortunate situation in the first place by employing the proper technique for the individual nose. When, however, the “nose job” appearance occurs, there are plastic surgeons who specialize in the repair.

This work involves changing the nose into an attractive, normal, non-surgical shape. Our concern is not only appearance, but also function. That is because the pinched or pointed or overly “turned up” nose frequently has a constriction of the airway. In essence, the function of the nose follows the form.

This type of work is the ultimate plastic surgical operation requiring great vision, finesse and experience. The surgeon acts as a sculptor, removing scar tissue or residual bone and cartilage. He or she is frequently replacing missing or overcorrected sections of the nose by harvesting and inserting tissue graft materials such as bone and cartilage from other parts of the body to repair the problem at hand.

Not all plastic surgeons will do such surgeries. The demands are great and the technique is difficult. But, the process of changing a poorly functioning, unattractive nose into a beautiful one which functions well is extremely gratifying.

We have found that computer imaging is extremely helpful in showing the revision rhinoplasty candidate the following:

  • Normal nasal anatomy
  • The disturbances in anatomy which resulted in the existing problem
  • The concept of the revision surgical plan- areas to reduce and areas to augment
  • The predicted surgical outcome.

This demonstration has served to allay the anxieties and fears of many of our patients who are understandably nervous having had previous rhinoplasties which proved disappointing.

No longer must the patient with the “nose job” appearance continue to suffer the aesthetic stigma and the airway problems of the past. Revision rhinoplasty has come of age in the modern era.