Revision rhinoplasty refers to nasal surgery performed on someone who has previously had nasal surgery.  Reasons for this type of repeat surgery could be many.  Most commonly, it is due to the patient's desire to have a better appearing nose or to improve their nasal airway or breathing.  One usually waits at least 12-months before performing revision rhinoplasty.

Dr. John Vartanian, a leading revision rhinoplasty surgeon in Los Angeles has offices in Glendale and Beverly Hills, CA and has great exposure to patient with nasal problems.  Dr. Vartanian's practice is about 25 percent composed of revision rhinoplasties, where he is correcting nasal problems that were created by other surgeons.

Quick breakdown of his revision rhinoplasty expereince in 2007-2008 is as follows:

• 73% Female    27% Male
• 45% cosmetic etiology alone
• 55% breathing problems alone
• 89% Both breathing and cosmetic complaints

On revision surgery, the follwing maneuvres were performed:

• Spreader grat placement:  64%
• Inferior turbinate reductions: 90%
• Interval valve J-flap or trim: 50%
• Septoplasty: 70%
• Nasal wall oufracture: 5%

The most glaring problems noted by Dr. Vartanian in Glendale rhinoplasties include: complete lack of attention to functional role of the nose by the previous surgeon, ignorance of a deviated septum, excision of too much alar cartilage to achieve short-term definition (at the expense of the nasal airway and long-term cosmesis), inadequate bony work, alar retraction, hanging columella, and narrowing the nose too much.

Accordingly, Dr. Vartanian has developed and adopted a number of techniques and grafting strategies to reverse commonly observed problems in many Glendale Rhinoplasties.  These revision cases can be done using the open approach or closed.  He uses the closed approach in 70% of the cases.

Often, if the septum has been previously excised, Dr. Vartanian can use ear cartilage or rib cartilage to successfully reconstruct the nose.

In addition, many times he may use temporary internal silastic (plastic) splints to maintain airway patency during the crucial intial 4-week healing period.

In summary, Dr. Vartanian attempts to deliver the best rhinoplasty results by utilizing a number of well-established techiques designed to address both form and function.

You can observe the work of Dr. John Vartanian at or at