Patient assessment for secondary rhinoplasty

Abstract

A secondary rhinoplasty patient is a multifarious challenge to the surgeon. Familiarity with the intricate skillsnecessary to handle the patient emotionally, analytically, and surgically is essential to satisfy the patient's needs and the surgeon's goals. It is of paramount importance to have knowledge of the patient's concerns, detect the imperfections, set high standards for the surgical goals, and compare the objectives with those of the patient's. Although one of the priorities is ultimate patient satisfaction, the artistic nature of the plastic surgery field necessitates surgeon satisfaction with the end result as well. For that end, profound knowledge of the potential problems and finesse make the achievement of desired aesthetic and functional outcome a possibility. In this chapter, we will discuss the difference between a primary and secondary rhinoplasty beginning with the emotional complexities associated with the previous surgery, then continuing with the acquisition of the patient history, physical patient evaluation, and finally technical differentiation.