How many rhinoplasties can a patient have?

The complexity of any surgery increases as the number of procedures increase – that’s due to scar tissue that forms during the healing phase postoperatively. Scar formation is natural and expected following any surgery. The amount and type of scar formed by each individual, however, varies based on their genetics and overall health status.

The more rhinoplasties a patient has, the more scar formation there is, and the higher their risks are for certain postoperative outcomes – namely, cosmetic imperfections, infection, and tissue ischemia. It’s important to discuss these risks with your surgeon preoperatively, particularly in a revision case.

The other unique aspect of rhinoplasty surgery is the fact that surgeons use cartilage from the nose (typically the septum) to reshape the nose. If a patient has had prior nasal surgery, their bank of available cartilage is likely depleted and their surgeon may need to use cartilage from elsewhere (i.e., ear, rib, or irradiated donor cartilage).

Soooo there’s no strict number of rhinoplasties a patient can have. The important thing to know is that the complexity of the surgery increases and certain risks increase with more nasal surgery.