[Garnet Plastic Surgery Press Coverage] Customized Planning Is Important for Revision Nose Surgery for Contracture Caused by Implants

Asian noses are often low and have a broad, bulbous shape, so

implant materials are commonly used to raise the bridge of the nose,

and autologous cartilage is used to raise the tip.

However, over time after nose surgery,

side effects such as inflammation or repeated swelling

may occur. You should decide on revision surgery

after checking whether these are symptoms of contracture.

After experiencing side effects caused by an implant,

revision nose surgery using autologous cartilage such as

septal cartilage, ear cartilage, and rib cartilage is recommended. When deciding on contracture revision nose surgery,

what points should be considered?

Learn more through the press coverage article

by Director Baek In-su of Garnet Plastic Surgery!

Asian noses are often low and broad. For this reason, in nose surgery, the first operation usually uses an implant to raise the bridge of the nose and autologous cartilage to raise the tip. However, after some time following surgery, there are many cases in which people decide to undergo revision surgery because they are unhappy with the shape of the nose or because a problem has developed with the implant.

In particular, if artificial implants such as silicone were used, they can easily cause inflammation and skin irritation. If left untreated, this can lead to symptoms of nasal contracture, so caution is needed. Contracted nose refers to a condition in which, after rhinoplasty, an inflammatory reaction has occurred or the capsule around the implant has changed, causing the nose to become red and hard. Symptoms of nasal contracture include the tip of the nose becoming excessively lifted or shortened, and the implant appearing bent.

If treatment is delayed, quick revision nose surgery may become difficult. Therefore, if swelling appears between the eyebrows after nose surgery, or if a pimple forms on the tip of the nose and turns red, these may be part of the contracture process, so it is advisable to visit a clinic for an examination. Revision nose surgery is generally considered appropriate 6 months to 1 year after the first surgery, and if inflammation or contracture is severe enough to damage the skin, revision surgery may be performed immediately.

For contracture revision nose surgery, the internal condition of the nose must be accurately understood for a stable operation. It is better to check the internal condition using low-dose 3D-CT with minimal radiation exposure and then establish a surgical plan accordingly. In addition, the direction of revision surgery should be determined by carefully examining the type and shape of the implant used in the first surgery, as well as the degree of curvature of the nasal bone and septal cartilage.

If you have already experienced side effects caused by an implant, it is better to use autologous cartilage such as septal cartilage, ear cartilage, and rib cartilage for contracture revision nose surgery. Because this type of revision nose surgery uses the patient's own tissue, the risk of side effects is low and a natural nose line can be achieved. Septal cartilage has a straight and even shape and can be used for both the bridge and the tip of the nose. Curved ear cartilage is mainly used for revision surgery on the tip of the nose to create a natural shape. Rib cartilage revision nose surgery can provide a sufficient amount compared to other cartilage sources, making it suitable in cases of severe contracture.

Contracture revision nose surgery removes the implant that caused problems in the previous operation, along with scar tissue and inflamed tissue, and then uses appropriate autologous cartilage materials to rebuild the septum and lower the tip of the nose to extend the shortened nasal length. In addition, by releasing and reconstructing the contracture in the skin and soft tissue while raising the bridge of the nose, the problems caused by nasal contracture can be addressed.

Baek In-su, Director of Garnet Plastic Surgery and board-certified plastic surgeon, explained, “Silicone implants do not inevitably cause side effects such as contracture in rhinoplasty, but if side effects do occur, whether to reuse them during revision surgery must be decided carefully. If inflammation occurs after rhinoplasty, you should visit a clinic and receive prompt treatment. If contracture has already developed, revision surgery can be decided after sufficient consultation with the medical staff.”

He added, “The more revision nose surgeries are performed, the more often aesthetic goals have to be given up, and revision surgery can become difficult, so when undergoing the first revision surgery, it is important to receive an accurate diagnosis from an experienced medical team and proceed accordingly. Both the functional aspects and aesthetics of the nose should be considered, and customized surgery should be performed according to each person’s symptoms.”

Source: Medical Today: https://mdtoday.co.kr/news/view/1065605423436695