Secondary Rhinoplasty

Secondary rhinoplasty is always a challenging procedure in view of the fact that there has been previous surgery done. The dissection is more difficult and bleeding may be more challenging. Scar tissue requires that the surgeon plod along a bit more slowly since it is more likely that the dissection will be more intricate.

But before one has a secondary rhinoplasty, they need to ask themselves: "Could my appearance be improved without another surgery?" In some cases, it can be by the use of permanent fillers. Because typically overdone noses tend to be too scooped out or too pinched, the patient is burdened by a loss of tissue. Can the lost tissue in fact be replaced by a filling injection? Yes, it can in most cases. This must be explored before surgery because another trip to the operating room has time, cost and some discomfort consequences.

To use a filler to correct the divots, dips, moguls and asymmetries is an office procedure. The nose is anesthetized with a topical cream prior to the injections which themselves take only seconds. And while a series of three to five may be required, each successive injection yields improvement to the point where the patient is satisfied.

— Robert Kotler, MD, FACS