NYC Rhinoplasty Surgeon, Dr. Sam Rizk

Generally, Double Board Certified, New York City Facial Plastic Surgeon, Sam Rizk, MD, FACS, advises patients to wait at least a year following their primary rhinoplasty procedure before undergoing revision rhinoplasty (secondary rhinoplasty).

Although some problems, such as displaced cartilage or bone, can be addressed as soon as a few months after the original rhinoplasty procedure, most cannot. This is because it takes a year or more for the scar tissue that develops to soften, and because the skin and soft tissue that surround the structural components of the nose remain swollen for a year or longer. Most facial plastic surgeons agree that some residual swelling lasts even longer. Until swelling has fully subsided, your surgeon will be unable to determine the right course of action. You yourself might decide that you don’t need revision once the swelling is gone.

Of course, as with any cosmetic procedure, the amount of time you need to wait before having revision rhinoplasty depends on the specifics of your situation. It also depends on what you are trying to achieve. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

It is important to note that while primary rhinoplasty is considered a very complex procedure, secondary rhinoplasty is even more complicated – perhaps the most complicated of all cosmetic surgeries – so it is extremely important that you enlist the services of a highly qualified, experienced rhinoplasty specialist such as Dr. Rizk. If a surgeon advises you to have revision rhinoplasty too early, the results may be disastrous. Some of the most serious complications associated with nose surgery can occur as a result of a prior revision surgery that was performed too soon. Performing surgery too soon can also lead to poor healing.

In sum, if you recently underwent primary rhinoplasty, patience is important. Contact Dr. Rizk for a thorough evaluation.