Revision Rhinoplasty with Innofit 3D Customized DCF
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Before / 2w post-op
I had my first rhinoplasty in 2013, but as the years passed, I gradually began to notice that my nose was becoming increasingly deviated.
Eventually, I also started experiencing an aching sensation, and the deviation became noticeable enough that it caused me a great deal of stress.
To be honest, I really did not want to undergo another rhinoplasty. At first, I visited plastic surgery clinics simply to find out whether a minor correction might be possible.
However, during the consultation process, I learned that the deviation was associated with nasal contracture and inflammatory changes, meaning that a simple correction would not be sufficient and revision surgery would need to be considered.
While researching clinics, I happened to come across a YouTube vlog, which led me to look more closely into patient reviews.
One of the things that particularly appealed to me about RU Plastic Surgery was that it is operated by Dr. Hyunju Kim as a single-surgeon practice.
Rather than worrying about who would actually perform my surgery in a large-volume clinic, I appreciated knowing exactly which surgeon would be responsible for my procedure. RU Plastic Surgery was also well known for revision rhinoplasty, so I decided to schedule a consultation.
I actually consulted with three different clinics in total.
Among them, Dr. Kim was the only surgeon who immediately explained that my nose appeared to be developing contracture associated with inflammatory changes.
His detailed assessment and straightforward explanation gave me a strong sense of confidence, and by the end of the consultation, I felt certain that I wanted to have my revision surgery performed at RU Plastic Surgery. I scheduled the procedure that same day.
Other than my rhinoplasty in 2013, I had never undergone another major surgical procedure, so I was honestly very reluctant to go through surgery again.
However, I was concerned that if the contracture continued to progress, the appearance of my nose could worsen and the inflammatory condition might eventually require even more extensive treatment, time, and expense.
For that reason, I decided that undergoing a definitive revision procedure at this stage was the better choice for me.
When I explained these concerns to Dr. Kim, he emphasized the importance of choosing an approach intended to minimize the risk of recurrent inflammatory problems.
He recommended using autologous rib cartilage rather than placing another conventional synthetic implant.
For my revision, the existing implant was avoided and a customized Innofit 3D DCF approach using autologous rib cartilage was planned for the nasal reconstruction.
I felt reassured that the surgical plan was tailored specifically to the condition of my nose and prioritized the use of my own tissue.
Because my previous surgery had been so long ago, I do not remember every detail of the recovery, but I remember it being quite difficult.
This time, however, I was surprised by how little facial swelling I experienced after surgery.
I was able to return to most of my normal daily activities within approximately one week and could work and move around without significant difficulty.
The first three days were still somewhat uncomfortable, mainly because I had to breathe through my mouth and because of discomfort at the autologous rib cartilage donor site, but the recovery became much easier afterward.
At around two weeks after surgery, the remaining internal silicone splints and external nasal splint were removed.
Once everything was removed, I was genuinely surprised by how comfortable my nose felt and how much I liked the shape.
During the preoperative design process, I had actually wondered whether the planned height might be too much for my face. However, once I saw the result, I felt that the height and overall contour suited my facial features extremely well.
I am especially grateful to Dr. Hyunju Kim for carefully identifying the underlying problems with my previous nose and planning a revision that feels both natural and well balanced with my face.
At this early stage of recovery, I am already very pleased with the result.
Most of all, I hope that the nose continues to heal well without further inflammatory problems and that I can maintain this result for many years to come.
