SECTION 01
Begin with the complete nasal history
A primary consultation starts with untreated anatomy and any prior injury, injection or breathing problem. A revision consultation also needs the dates and details of every nasal procedure, operative reports when available, implant or graft information, earlier photographs and the course of healing.
Do not omit non-surgical injections or procedures performed elsewhere. Unknown materials, infection history, skin changes or earlier graft harvest can influence examination, imaging or the range of options discussed.
- Request operative and implant records from previous providers.
- Bring photographs from before surgery and at several healing stages.
- List functional changes as well as appearance concerns.
SECTION 02
Revision planning must account for altered tissue
Scar tissue can make layers less predictable, while previous reduction or grafting may change support. The surgeon should assess skin-soft-tissue quality, septal material, tip and bridge support, symmetry, airway function and potential donor sites before discussing technique.
Revision goals often require prioritization. Ask which concerns are realistically modifiable, which may remain and whether waiting for further healing is advisable. A remote photo cannot determine scar maturity or the condition of internal structures.
SECTION 03
Compare graft and reconstruction questions
Primary surgery may have more native septal cartilage available. Revision planning may require consideration of ear or rib cartilage, existing graft reuse or removal, implant management or a smaller corrective plan. No graft source is universally best.
The discussion should cover donor-site scars and symptoms, graft warping or resorption, infection, asymmetry, airway changes and the possibility that findings during surgery alter the plan. The surgeon should explain why each material is proposed.
SECTION 04
Allow extra flexibility for revision follow-up
Revision follow-up should be built around both the nose and any cartilage donor site. Ask when splints, packing or other internal supports, nasal skin and breathing will be examined, how an ear or chest donor wound would be reviewed and which findings would delay a planned journey.
Scarred tissues and reconstruction can make the review sequence different from a primary case. International patients should not select a return flight from someone else's recovery diary; the operating team must examine every wound and support, assess breathing and overall recovery, and give case-specific travel clearance.
- Confirm how splints, packing or graft donor sites will be reviewed.
- Identify qualified local follow-up before leaving home.
- Keep records of the new operation for future care.