Does Revision Rhinoplasty Take Longer to Heal?

Revision rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure that focuses on reshaping a nose after a previous rhinoplasty surgery or correcting damage or reduced nasal function after a previous one.

Due to its complex nature and accumulated scar tissue from prior procedures, revision rhinoplasty can take longer to heal.

A Complex Procedure

Revision rhinoplasty can be much more complicated than an initial rhinoplasty because it deals with a nose that has already been surgically altered– just like correcting an improperly repaired car takes longer. It is more complicated than fixing the issue properly in the first place.

The previous surgery means that the nose might have developed scar tissue. In addition, the entire nasal structure might need to be reshaped, and the nose’s soft tissues might be extra sensitive to inflammation.

Complexity and Healing Time

As noted above, revision rhinoplasty is more complex and takes longer to heal. The average recovery period for a revision rhinoplasty is one to two weeks, with the patient staying home from work for at least a week. However, it will usually take at least a year for the nose to fully heal. In some cases, it can take more than a year for all the swelling to go down completely.

Moreover, every patient and revision rhinoplasty is different. These subtle differences can affect recovery time, meaning some patients will heal faster, and others might need more time. Your revision rhinoplasty surgeon will be able to give you a more specific timeline based on your unique procedure and situation.

Shorten Your Healing Time

There are steps you can take after your revision rhinoplasty to speed up your recovery time and keep your new nose healthy.

Surgeons recommend that revision rhinoplasty patients:

• Avoid smoking
• Drink lots of water
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Refrain from taking Aspirin, Advil, Vitamin E supplements and Motrin for a few weeks after the surgery
• Avoid swimming or other strenuous activity for a month
• Refrain from blowing their nose for at least two weeks
• Try to sit up as much as possible
• Avoid excess facial movement from laughing, smiling, or eating chewy foods
• Wear contacts instead of glasses for a month

Is Revision Rhinoplasty Worth It?

For people who don’t want to settle for a failed initial rhinoplasty, a revision is ideal—despite the longer healing time. Dr. Thomas Loeb is a renowned plastic surgeon known for his revision rhinoplasty skills. He will work with you to make a personalized treatment plan to help give you to appearance you’ve dreamed of. Call Dr. Thomas Loeb for a consultation to learn more about your options for revision rhinoplasty in NYC.

Additional Resources:

1. PlasticSurgery.org, Understanding Revision Rhinoplasty, https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/understanding-revision-rhinoplasty-and-why-patients-seek-out-this-procedure
2. Stanford Medicine, Revision Rhinoplasty, https://med.stanford.edu/drmost/aesthetic-services/procedures/revision-rhinoplasty.html