How to find the right plastic surgeon to perform a corrective rhinoplasty

Any plastic surgery procedure is an extremely personal experience for the patient. Deciding to pursue plastic surgery and finding the right surgeon is unique to each patient, whether they're seeking out a small aesthetic tweak or something a little more dramatic.

Some aesthetic procedures involve a high level of attention to critical details and can often go wrong if the surgeon chosen is not right for the challenge. An example is revision rhinoplasty – an in-depth procedure that aims to revise or correct a previous rhinoplasty, with the goal of helping a patient reach their aesthetic goals and achieve facial balance. Much like a rhinoplasty, a corrective rhinoplasty is highly personalized to the patient and requires the patient and the surgeon to work closely together to achieve ideal results.

How do you find the right surgeon to perform such a unique, individualized procedure? Are there any red flags to watch for? We spoke with ASPS Member Surgeon Richard Reish, MD, FACS, to gather more insight into revision rhinoplasty, including steps that patients can take to set themselves up for success and questions to ask along the way.

Seek out a surgeon who exclusively performs rhinoplasty procedures

To kick things off, you want to find surgeons who specialize in rhinoplasty procedures for the best possible results.

"In selecting a good surgeon for rhinoplasty, first and foremost make sure that you're going to someone that exclusively practices rhinoplasty," said Dr. Reish. "A surgeon can't just say that they're great at everything – it just doesn't work for rhinoplasty. This is the most challenging surgery in all of plastic surgery – it's a surgical parlay of millimeters, not centimeters. Each surgery has to be done with meticulous care."

Do your research prior to scheduling a consultation

The next step is to perform in-depth research on potential surgeons. This can involve taking a look at their website before and after galleries to get a better idea of their patients, their experience and their level of expertise.

"Go on their website – not their social media," said Dr. Reish. "Look at their before and after gallery. If they only have a few photos or you don't like the photos, don't do surgery with them. Look for long-term photos that are from more than one year post-surgery. If a surgeon has only on-table photos, that is an immediate red flag. The pictures can look okay at the moment, but then in a year or two will look worse."

When doing your research, it may be tempting to seek out potential surgeons' social media. This may be a source of before and after images, but it's important to keep in mind that social media can easily be manipulated via filtering and photo editing.

"Another red flag in surgeons is if they only use patient selfies as long-term follow-up after photos," said Reish. "These can be heavily filtered or Photoshopped and extremely misleading. If a surgeon exclusively has this type of photo for their before and after galleries, this is a major red flag."

Meet with the surgeon to determine their communication style

Clear and constant communication with your surgeon is critical for success. Ask a surgeon how they will communicate with you pre- and post-surgery and how available they will be if an issue arises.

"For me, it's all about communication, even before surgery," said Dr. Reish. "During the consultation, I give each patient my personal cell phone. I keep a hands-on approach with everything that I do. The major advantage is that I like to keep really close tabs on my patients."

Additionally, ensure that you are comfortable with the surgeon and the communication style, as these are building blocks to successful results.

"Make sure that you find someone that you feel comfortable with," said Dr. Reish. "If you don't feel comfortable, don't do surgery with them. This relationship is going to last for years – you want to go to someone that you trust."

Remember that corrective rhinoplasty is a journey

As with any plastic surgery procedure, it's easy for patients to get caught up in the afters and the results that they've been dreaming of with revision rhinoplasty. Yet, it's important for them to always keep in mind that this procedure in itself is a journey – the results aren't immediate, and it will take time to reach them.

"You may not even like the look at first," said Dr. Reish. "When that splint comes off, you're not going to like what you see – it's going to be swollen. You have to be prepared for it and not be disappointed if you don't like it at first. The final results take at least a year and a half to get to and it can be a very circuitous journey with a lot of ups and downs."

It's crucial that patients properly vet potential surgeons to find the right one to perform revision rhinoplasty. Make sure that the surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is an ASPS member who exclusively practices rhinoplasty to ensure their expertise in this area. Do extensive research on their experience and results, determine their communication style and, as always, remember that this procedure is a journey. In doing so, patients can set themselves up for success and amazing, highly satisfying results with revision rhinoplasty.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.