Q: Almost 5 months ago I had Asian rhinoplasty done with L silicon implant and ear cartilage at the tip. There has been lots of pressure at the tip ever since the operation. Aside from the pressure, the nose tip points dramatically to the right since the day of the operation. The bridge is straight. I’m sure I will seek another, more experienced surgeon for revision, but when should I do revision? I’ve read that it is recommended to wait 6 months, but I’m worried about the pressure on the tip.
A: Signs of impending implant extrusion include increasing redness and tenderness. Extrusion is a gradual process, as the skin is slowly thinned by the implant to the point of ulcerating. In this case, when the skin is being thinned by a synthetic implant, the risks of waiting too long may be greater than operating sooner than the “recommended” time. Using tissue from your own body (autologous grafts) will greatly reduce the risk of this possible complication.
