Reason I got revision surgery: I had my first surgery 8 years ago. I was satisfied at first, but the nasal tip that had been lifted with ear cartilage gradually started to droop. The bridge was also too high in a way that didn’t suit me, and it was obviously a surgically done nose, so whenever anyone even mentioned noses, I would get sensitive^^!!! My self-esteem hit rock bottom, and I didn’t want to live like that forever, so I ended up getting revision surgery.
Clinic shopping: For my first surgery, I just had it done at the very first clinic I looked into, so thinking that I had been way too careless, I went to 10 places for revision consultations... My time, consultation fees, CT scans, and so on... It took so much time that the whole search process was honestly painful. There were places I made time to visit but the consultation was terrible, and there were also places that had basically nothing, whether CT or photo imaging. This is really why you need to read clinic-shopping reviews carefully before going lol^^!!
I debated a lot between VN, where I ended up getting my revision rhinoplasty, and another clinic, Clinic A. First of all, the nose shape itself was similar at both places. They said they would lift the nasal tip again, lower the bridge, and reshape the nasal tip.... But Clinic A recommended autologous costal cartilage, while VN said I could choose whichever I wanted between autologous costal cartilage or donated rib cartilage. A lot of people say revision surgery = autologous costal cartilage is the standard rule, so I really struggled over it, but I’m also very sensitive about scars, and I felt the stress after using autologous costal cartilage would be greater, so I chose the place that didn’t pressure me with a material recommendation. Anyway, choosing the nasal material is up to me too.. I didn’t want to be swayed for no reason by what other people said.
Thoughts after revision surgery: For the nasal materials/procedures, I had cartilage repositioning + cartilage suturing + donated rib cartilage + septal extension done together. Honestly, for the first week, I was so busy going to the clinic and recovering that it was a blur. From the second week onward, I could see that the nasal tip shape I used to hate had changed from round > defined, which was fascinating. The silicone that had been placed in my nasal bridge was also replaced, and thanks to Director Oh Seung-il adjusting the silicone height and correcting my short nose to match the proportions of my facial features, my nostrils don’t show excessively even from the front, and my Squidward-like nose was corrected, so I really liked it.
Still, maybe because donated rib cartilage was used, it does feel a bit firmer to the touch than when only ear cartilage was used. If donated rib cartilage is like this, what would it have been like with autologous costal cartilage^^.. I do sometimes think about that!!
After revision rhinoplasty, I’m currently highly satisfied, and I’m so, so grateful to the clinic for making the nose I wanted even without using autologous costal cartilage.
Conclusion: It was so hard going around to 10 places for consultations, but I have no regrets lol