Question: I’m considering rhinoplasty for purely cosmetic reasons. I’m healthy and in my mid 20s. I’m mentally prepared for the surgery and I know there will be some swelling and discomfort afterwards. But I’d like to know that once I’m recovered, the chance for future problems or complications will be minimal and that I can just go on about my life normally. Is there anything that can go wrong after a nose job that might require a follow-up procedure?
Answer: Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure and as such there are risks that are associated with any surgery. You have to do your homework to be sure you have chosen the proper rhinoplasty surgeon. There are many plastic surgeons doing rhinoplasty that do not completely understand the nose. These cosmetic surgeons dabbling and rhinoplasty often end up be compromising the structure of the nose which may require major reconstructive revision rhinoplasty. However even if you do your homework properly and chose a skilled rhinoplasty surgeon there are issues that may arise down the line as a result of healing irregularities. If you look at international as well as national figures about 5 to 15% of the time a minor revision may be necessary to counteract less than ideal healing. If you think about a Sculptor sculpting on a block of marble, the results do not change many years down the line after the Sculptor walks away. However immediately after a rhinoplasty surgeon finishes the nose job the nose will start the change. In the proper surgical hands post-rhinoplasty results should be much better than pre-rhinoplasty results regardless however as I mentioned about 5-15% of the time a secondary smaller procedure may be necessary. I would also like to point out to you that Michael Jackson’s rhinoplasty results were not as a result of healing changes but rather as a result of poor surgical judgment and technique in addition to other patient-doctor factors. If you have a healthy attitude towards rhinoplasty and you understand this facts, then you should not be headed for this appointment.
