A recently published study in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery discusses the primary reasons people seek revision surgery after rhinoplasty (nose reshaping).  According to the study, the common reasons for revision include nasal breathing obstruction and nasal tip asymmetry.

The study presents both a subjective (patient) and objective (physician) view of both the functional and aesthetic concerns presented by rhinoplasty patients.  Doctors Kathy Yu MD, Alyn Kim MD and Steven J. Pearlman MD surveyed 104 patients seeking revision rhinoplasty to evaluate their concerns.  The results were then compared with a surgeon’s evaluation of those concerns.

Only 5 to 15 percent of patients seek revision, according to the authors.  Among the aesthetic issues mentioned, the most common concerns include tip asymmetry, followed by “crooked middle third of the nose” and  “upper third irregularity.”

Some discrepancies were found between the patients concerns and the surgeon’s evaluation.  A surgeon with knowledge of nasal anatomy will, of course, have a more objective and knowledgeable assessment of each patient’s situation.  In many cases, (a mean of 79 percent) the surgeon could confirm or validate the patient’s concerns, but in others they did not.

Like many surgical procedures, the goal of rhinoplasty is not perfection, but improvement.  Nonetheless, if you are experiencing breathing problems or find that you are dissatisfied with the results of rhinoplasty, you may want to consult with your surgeon to reassess the results of the operation.

There are specialized procedures to address nasal obstruction as well as procedures to address aesthetic concerns.  Ask your surgeon for more information on revision rhinoplasty.

Read more about this study in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery or Womenshealth.gov