Revision Rhinoplasty: San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon Reveals Common Patient Concerns

The thought of undergoing a secondary rhinoplasty procedure may be unsettling, but Dr. John Hilinski says patients needing revision nose surgery in San Diego are not alone.

San Diego, CA — Dr. John Hilinski, a facial plastic surgeon in San Diego, says revision rhinoplasty is one of the most popular procedures requested at his practice. He performs revision rhinoplasty on a weekly basis. Because rhinoplasty is one of the most intricately complex treatments in aesthetic surgery, he says there are a number of reasons patients may need to have a secondary procedure, and choosing a surgeon with the proper experience and credentials is essential to ensuring the outcome is both safe and satisfactory.

At his San Diego facial plastic surgery practice, Dr. Hilinski says some of the most common motivations for seeking a secondary rhinoplasty procedure include:

An Overdone Appearance: “Often times patients have had excessive cartilage removed from their nose in an attempt to create a more refined-looking nose. Unfortunately, this overcorrection can structurally weaken the nose and lead to a nasal collapse several months or years later. These patients may also notice pinched nasal tips or abnormal shadowing throughout other areas of the nose, including the middle segment of the bridge.”
Insufficient Reshaping: “Other patients complain that their nose was not reshaped enough. They may have a bridge that was left too high or a tip that is still poorly defined. In similar cases, the alignment was not adequately addressed, leaving the patient with a nasal bridge that is still crooked when seen from the front.”

Much like primary rhinoplasty, Dr. Hilinski says secondary nasal surgery involves the cosmetic and functional reshaping of a patient’s nose; however, prior anatomical distortion, abnormal scarring, and surgical manipulation from prior procedures can make the procedure a very different type of operation. Because of these additional factors, he says, “revision rhinoplasty is a much more challenging operation than primary rhinoplasty because there are so many more variables involved in the surgery.” Another challenge he says plastic surgeons tasked with performing a revision rhinoplasty procedure may face is the patient’s psychology, having been disappointed by the results of their previous experience.

“Revision rhinoplasty patients have already gone through a primary rhinoplasty and a good number have also already had prior attempts and revision rhinoplasty,” says Dr. Hilinski. “It is imperative that a revision rhinoplasty expert be able to confidently allay these concerns when consulting with revision rhinoplasty patients. And the only real way to do this is to be a true specialist in this operation with advanced knowledge and expertise in being able to perform revision rhinoplasty.”

In any case, Dr. Hilinski says consulting with a properly-trained, board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon is a crucial step in making sure patients receive quality care and the right results for their needs. He encourages anyone considering a revision procedure to take the time to adequately research their chosen surgeon’s practice before undergoing any treatment.

“As a revision rhinoplasty specialist, there is enormous responsibility and expectation that I am going to be the last stop in this process of getting the nose to the desired shape and size,” he says. “It is this precise concept that motivates me on a daily basis to continue building my practice and reputation as one of the best revision rhinoplasty experts out there.”

About John M. Hilinski, MD
Dr. John Hilinski is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, as well as a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and several other professional organizations. He is available for interview upon request.