Revision Rhinoplastywhen a previous nose job didn't go to plan
Secondary nose surgery to correct an unsatisfactory cosmetic or breathing result from one or more earlier operations. Mr Santdeep Paun, FRCS is one of the UK's most experienced revision rhinoplasty surgeons, with international fellowship training and a focus on the complex cases other surgeons decline.
Mr Santdeep Paun, FRCS
Consultant Nasal & Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9★
from 312+ reviews
25+
years' experience
Tatler
“Best Nose Surgeon”
Sunday Times
quoted in
A second chance — done carefully
Revision rhinoplasty is not simply “another nose job”. Scar tissue, distorted anatomy and a shortage of healthy cartilage make it one of the most technically demanding operations in the field. It rewards experience, structural thinking, and honest expectation setting — which is exactly how Mr Paun approaches it.
At your consultation he will examine your nose inside and out, review what was done before, and use 3D imaging to show you what a realistic correction looks like. Read more about Mr Paun and his fellowship training.
Why patients seek revision
If any of these sound familiar, a consultation will tell you whether — and how much — they can be improved.
Residual or new hump
A bump that wasn’t fully addressed — or an over-resected, “scooped” bridge.
Tip problems
Pinched, asymmetric, drooping, over-rotated or poorly defined tips.
Still crooked
A nose that remains deviated despite previous surgery.
Blocked breathing
Collapse or narrowing of the internal or external nasal valve causing obstruction.
Saddle-nose deformity
Loss of bridge support after surgery, trauma or infection — see nose reconstruction.
An over-operated look
A nose that looks “done” and no longer suits the face.
What revision surgery involves
Open approach
Most revision work uses an open approach for precise control, under general anaesthetic in a fully accredited London hospital.
Rebuilding support
Cartilage is borrowed from the septum, ear or — in more involved cases — the rib, to rebuild the framework and create a stable shape.
Refining the shape
With a sound framework in place, the overlying contours of the bridge, tip and nostrils are refined.
Functional work too
Many revision cases also need functional surgery to support a collapsed airway — see septorhinoplasty.
Your revision rhinoplasty path
- 1
Consultation — £275
Mr Paun examines your nose inside and out, reviews what was done before (operative notes help if you have them), and uses 3D imaging to show a realistic correction.
- 2
An honest assessment
Some noses can be substantially improved; some only a little; occasionally the right advice is to wait. You will get a straight answer either way.
- 3
Surgery
Usually an open approach under general anaesthetic, with cartilage grafting as needed. Operating time varies with complexity.
- 4
Recovery
Splint for about a week and 1–2 weeks off work for most people — with final refinement often taking 18 months or more in revision noses.
Bring your questions — and your old notes
A £275 consultation with Mr Paun includes a full examination, 3D imaging, and an honest view of what's achievable. If you have operative notes or photos from previous surgery, bring them. See costs and finance, or book below.
Revision rhinoplasty — FAQs
What is revision rhinoplasty?
Revision (or secondary) rhinoplasty corrects an unsatisfactory result — cosmetic or functional — from one or more previous nose operations. It is among the most demanding procedures in facial plastic surgery, because the normal tissue planes are scarred and cartilage may be missing or weakened.
Why is Mr Paun well suited to revision cases?
Mr Paun has 25+ years' experience with an exclusive focus on nasal and facial plastic surgery, and undertook international fellowship training in Amsterdam, Lyon, Toronto and Harvard-affiliated Boston. He regularly takes on complex revision and reconstructive cases, including patients who have had several previous surgeries elsewhere.
Will I need cartilage grafts?
Often, yes. Revision noses frequently lack structural support, so cartilage may be borrowed from the septum, the ear, or — in more involved cases — the rib, to rebuild the framework and create a stable, natural shape.
How long should I wait after my previous surgery?
As a guide, at least 12 months, so that swelling has settled and the tissues have softened. Mr Paun will advise on timing at your consultation; functional problems that affect breathing can sometimes be addressed sooner.
Is recovery different from primary rhinoplasty?
The early recovery is similar — a splint for about a week and 1–2 weeks off work for most people — but final refinement can take longer, often 18 months or more, because revision tissue swells more and settles more slowly.
Can revision rhinoplasty also fix my breathing?
Yes. Many revision cases combine aesthetic correction with functional work — straightening a deviated septum, supporting collapsed nasal valves, or reducing turbinates — see our septorhinoplasty page.
Related procedures & pages
Rhinoplasty London
Expert rhinoplasty (nose surgery) in London by Mr Santdeep Paun, FRCS — Tatler's 'Best Nose Surgeon'. Primary nose reshaping, hump removal & tip refinement at Harley Street and The Shard. Book a £275 consultation with 3D imaging.
Read moreSeptorhinoplasty
Septorhinoplasty in London by Mr Santdeep Paun, FRCS — combined functional and cosmetic nose surgery that straightens a deviated septum, improves breathing and refines the shape of the nose in one procedure. Book a £275 consultation.
Read moreNose Reconstruction
Nasal reconstruction in London & the UK by Mr Santdeep Paun, FRCS — rebuilding the nose after skin cancer (Mohs) surgery, trauma, collapse (saddle nose) or failed previous surgery, using cartilage grafts and local flaps. Book a consultation.
Read moreRhinoplasty Cost
What rhinoplasty costs in London, what affects the price (primary vs revision, complexity, anaesthetic and hospital fees) and how finance works through Chrysalis Finance. Consultation with Mr Santdeep Paun FRCS is £275, including 3D imaging.
Read moreMr Santdeep Paun FRCS
Mr Santdeep Paun, FRCS (ORL-HNS) — Medical Director of Symmetry Clinic and one of the UK's leading rhinoplasty surgeons. Former Head of Department at Barts & the Royal London, honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary's University, international fellowships, Founder & Inaugural President of the European Board for Certification in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and current President of the International Board. Tatler's 'Best Nose Surgeon'.
Read more