One-Month Review After Revision Rhinoplasty with Autologous Rib Cartilage (40s)
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It has now been one month
since my revision rhinoplasty.
Right after removing the splint,
my nose looked quite unnatural—
almost like something was placed on top.
But with daily walks for 2–3 hours,
the major swelling subsided quickly,
and by around day 9,
I could already see the swelling
around the radix going down each morning.
Compared to my first surgery,
where I had little information,
this time I had very clear preferences.
I didn’t want an overly long, masculine nose,
a curved “button nose,”
or anything that looked artificial or overdone.
Instead, I wanted a natural straight-to-slightly-curved line
with a softly rounded, feminine tip.
During consultation,
Dr. Hyunjoo Kim clearly explained
both the possibilities and limitations—
for example, that nostril shape
cannot be completely changed,
and that due to my thin skin,
there are limits to how much lengthening is possible.
However, by adjusting the columella
and nasal base,
he explained that improvement
would still be significant.
The plan included
a silicone implant for the bridge
with dermal coverage,
and conservative alar reduction
to avoid an unnatural appearance.
He also suggested lowering
the starting point of the bridge slightly
to maintain a more natural look,
which I agreed with since I didn’t want
an overly high nose.
Even though RU Plastic Surgery
had the highest cost among the clinics I visited,
I ultimately chose it because
I felt that choosing based on price alone
would lead to regret.
What mattered more was
how safely and effectively
my concerns could be addressed
within my own facial structure.
After surgery,
the recovery process was manageable.
The first night had some discomfort,
but overall it was tolerable.
Swelling and bruising were minimal,
and by the second week,
most bruising had disappeared.
At one month,
there is still some firmness
and tightness in the tip and columella,
but it is gradually improving.
The autologous rib donor site
was more uncomfortable the day after surgery
than on the day itself,
but by around three weeks,
it had mostly recovered.
Overall, I feel that
the areas I was most dissatisfied with
have been improved,
and my confidence has grown significantly.
Although it has only been one month
and more time is needed,
I am satisfied with both the results
and the post-operative care.
