If you have recently had a rhinoplasty, commonly known as a “nose job,” or if you are thinking about having one, you may be wondering how to tell if the procedure was done right or wrong. Of course, if you’ve had a good job done, the best sign is that you won’t be able to tell that the procedure was done. But the signs of a botched rhinoplasty may be more subtle and not always immediately apparent after the procedure.
Not all nose jobs turn out well, so if you are left with a serious cosmetic problem after surgery that has caused you significant psychological harm, you may have a claim for damages. In most cases, you will have to prove that the doctor who performed your surgery breached his or her duty of care to you and was deliberately negligent in performing the rhinoplasty in order to make a claim. Below are some of the most common signs that your nose job was unsuccessful and the legal options you have after a botched rhinoplasty.
How to determine if a rhinoplasty was poorly done?
THIN TIP OF THE NOSE
A noticeably thin nasal tip after rhinoplasty means that the tip of the nose may have narrowed as much as the bridge of the nose. The nose looks best when the tip is slightly wider than the bridge of the nose, and it is often the case that the surgeon has simply narrowed the tip too much by doing a general narrowing of the nose.
CROOKED” PROFILE
When the bridge of the nose is too low after surgery, this is commonly referred to as a “spoon profile”. This may mean that your surgeon has shaved off too much cartilage, in addition to trimming the bone too low. It can also occur if the surgeon has removed too much tissue inside the nose, weakening the structure of the nose and causing it to break.
RHINOPLASTY IN WHICH THE NOSE APPEARS WRINKLED.
Nasal impingement occurs when the surgeon removes too much cartilage outside the nostrils. This can cause breathing difficulties, so it is important to correct this defect as soon as possible, and then visit the doctor.
A NOSE AT AN ODD ANGLE
A common side effect of nose reduction is being left with the nose turned up at an odd or unnatural angle. When a large amount of tissue is removed from the front of the septum in an attempt to elevate the nose, it is an unfortunate mistake that can occur. It is important to seek the help of a more experienced surgeon immediately upon noticing this error, as it is more difficult to correct than most errors encountered in unsuccessful rhinoplasty.
SHORTNESS OF BREATH
One of the most obvious and frightening side effects of a botched rhinoplasty is difficulty breathing after the procedure. Natural swelling is normal after any surgical procedure and most patients experience some difficulty breathing for a few weeks to a few months after rhinoplasty.
However, if swelling and breathing difficulties persist after several months, you have reason to suspect that rhinoplasty has failed. There are a number of reasons why rhinoplasty can cause breathing difficulties. Most commonly this occurs when the surgeon has attempted to make the nose thinner and has not kept the airway wide enough. Talk to your doctor if you notice breathing problems to determine if you need surgery to correct the problem.
WHEN SHOULD I TALK TO A LAWYER ABOUT A BOTCHED RHINOPLASTY?
Simply because you don’t like the way your nose looks after plastic surgery is not enough to take legal action. Your surgeon must have caused a serious and debilitating injury, infection or disfigurement for a lawsuit to be successful. Even if there are some complications that your plastic surgeon cannot help or prevent, you have every right to take legal action if your injury was caused by negligence or wrongful conduct.
If you want to avoid a bad rhinoplasty always verify that your surgeon is endorsed by the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery. You can see my profile as an endorsed plastic surgeon in this link: https://cirugiaplastica.org.co/author/ladron-de-guevara-cervera-johnatan-roy
If you want more information about rhinoplasty, before and after photos, recovery time and all the complete information you can click here.