Can Rhinoplasty Go Wrong?

Dr. Nicholas Lahar

Jun 12, 2026

The nose is one of the most noticeable and defining facial features. If you don’t like your nose’s shape or size, rhinoplasty can help. Rhinoplasty, also called a nose job, can make the nose more attractive and in proportion to the face by removing bone, tissue, and cartilage.

However, rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult cosmetic surgeries, and sometimes the results are unpredictable. Sometimes, rhinoplasty can go wrong, and the patient needs revision surgery.

A retrospective review of 369 consecutive cosmetic rhinoplasties published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. It found overall complication, dissatisfaction, and revision rates of 7.9%, 15.4%, and 9.8%, respectively.

It also identified that failure to adequately address the nasal tip during primary rhinoplasty was a strong predictor of patient dissatisfaction. This factor was among the strongest predictors contributing to dissatisfaction outcomes. When rhinoplasty does not go as planned, revision surgery is often the solution.

Rhinoplasty is the procedure where the margin between a great result and a disappointing one is the smallest. In our practice, thorough preoperative planning is what sets the stage for a predictable outcome. The consultation is just as important as the surgery itself.

– Dr. Lahar

Contents

1 Signs of bad Rhinoplasty
2 How can revision Rhinoplasty help?
3 When can you have revision Rhinoplasty?
4 Request a Rhinoplasty consultation
5 References

Signs of bad Rhinoplasty

You will probably find many images of rhinoplasties gone wrong if you look online. Some of the signs include bad scarring, asymmetry, or a nose out of proportion with the other parts of the face.

Sometimes, the nose may look good when taken by itself, but it may not match the rest of the face. Also, if you have trouble breathing more than a month after surgery, there could be an internal nose issue.

If the plastic surgeon made the nose smaller, they might not have addressed septal deviation, which can cause severe breathing problems. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a pre-surgical evaluation should assess both the cosmetic and functional aspects of the nose to reduce the risk of both aesthetic and breathing complications.

Fortunately, most rhinoplasty problems can be corrected with revision surgery if performed by a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon.

How can revision Rhinoplasty help?

When you look in the bathroom mirror, your nose may not appear the way you wanted after your nose job. But you shouldn’t rush out to get another nose job a month after the first procedure.

It can take up to a year before the changes appear and the swelling recedes. You could be happy with the shape of your nose after it fully heals. Cleveland Clinic advises that most surgeons recommend waiting at least one year before considering revision rhinoplasty. Residual swelling can significantly distort the appearance of the nose and may make a revision appear necessary when it is not. You may ultimately be satisfied with the result once the nose fully heals.

However, there are situations where additional surgery is needed to correct issues with the first rhinoplasty:

Nose tip

If too much cartilage is removed from the tip, the nose can break down. It can even take on a flattened appearance that may collapse the nostrils. When the nostrils collapse, you could have breathing problems and aesthetic issues.

Your surgeon can take cartilage from other body parts to rebuild the nose tip.

Another common nose tip problem is called Polly beak deformity. This is where an inexperienced surgeon fills in the dip above the nose tip too much, giving the nose a rounded appearance.

Yet another issue is when the nose tip is overextended. This may happen when the inexperienced surgeon adds too much cartilage to support the tip.

Bridge issues

If too much bone and tissue are removed from the bridge, it can give the nose a sloped shape. This may happen if the surgeon uses a chisel on the nose bridge.

In the follow-up procedure, the surgeon can attempt to refine the shape of the bridge or can add bone from another body part.

Pinched nostrils

The surgeon may remove too much of the nostril tissue from the outside, making the nostrils more like slits than holes.

This problem is correctable, but it needs to be performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.

Internal problems

A poor nose job could damage the interior of the nose. Sometimes the damage can cause a constantly clogged nose, affecting breathing and health.

A common issue is nasal valve collapse. This is the narrowest part of your nasal airway, and if it breaks down, it will be hard to breathe through the nostrils.

The surgeon will probably perform open rhinoplasty to have complete access to the nose’s internal structures. A clinical review of septorhinoplasty outcomes published in PMC/PubMed found that the most common acute complications of rhinoplasty include pain, swelling, and periorbital bruising. General complications such as bleeding, infection, deformity, and nasal airway obstruction account for the majority of cases requiring revision.

Breathing problems

Nasal congestion is common after rhinoplasty, but it should only last a few weeks. However, if you have congestion for more than a month, there could be an underlying problem that needs to be fixed with revision rhinoplasty.

Nerve damage

Rhinoplasty can affect the facial nerves, leading to numbness in the face or nose. This problem usually resolves on its own. But if this issue continues for more than a few weeks, or affects feeling in the lips, make an appointment with your surgeon.

Infection

Your surgeon will probably give you antibiotics to fight infections that may affect your incisions or other parts of the nose. Talk to your surgeon if you notice swelling or redness around the incisions after the first two weeks.

When can you have revision Rhinoplasty?

There is no question that a ‘bad nose job’ can be disappointing and upsetting. However, most people want to fix the problem right away because the problem is so visible.

However, most surgeons recommend waiting a year before having another nose job. This is because it takes that long for the body to heal and the swelling to go down.

You may think all of the swelling is gone after a few months, but there probably still is residual swelling for six months or longer. The swelling can make the nose look bigger than it is, and it may convince you that you need another surgery when you don’t.

According to the Mayo Clinic, it can take up to a year for all rhinoplasty swelling to fully resolve and for the final nasal shape to be accurately assessed. Surgeons typically use this waiting period to allow scar tissue to soften, which makes any necessary revision work safer and more predictable. Waiting at least 12 months also makes scar tissue more pliable and easier to work with during a follow-up procedure.

Patients understandably want answers right away, and that’s a very human response. But at six months, we’re often still seeing an evolving result. The advice to wait a full year is what gives revision rhinoplasty the best possible chance of success.

– Dr. Lahar

Most patients are satisfied with their rhinoplasties, but sometimes problems occur. If you think you need revision rhinoplasty, talk to your plastic surgeon today about the options.

You also may consider having other procedures at the same time to maximize your results, such as a facelift or eyelid lift.

Request a Rhinoplasty consultation

Thinking about rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is pleased to provide plastic surgery procedures to his Beverly Hills patients. He will discuss your aesthetic goals during your consultation and help you decide if rhinoplasty is right for you.