The difference between first rhinoplasty and revision — how incision and suturing reduce scarring

01

Where is the incision made in first rhinoplasty, and in what shape?

In first rhinoplasty, the incision is made in the columellar area between the nostrils.

At this point, the incision line is given a triangular shape to make the scar less visible. Drawing a straight line would make the scar more visible and appear sunken inward — designing it triangular makes it less visible. If suturing is also done well on top of this, the rhinoplasty scar doesn't show much later.

To summarize, the scar is decided at two stages.

• Incision line design — a triangular shape rather than a straight line reduces how much the scar shows.
• Suturing — even with a good incision, the suturing must be precise for the scar to be less noticeable.

02

Do humped and bulbous noses have different incision methods?

The incision itself isn't different. Humped and bulbous noses share the same dissection process after opening.

The difference is in the next stage.

In other words, the way in is the same — what differs is whether the bridge gets trimmed or the tip's soft tissue gets organized, according to each nose's features.

03

How is revision different from first rhinoplasty?

Revision proceeds a bit differently from first rhinoplasty — because in revision, the structures inside the nose are already artificially built.

Therefore dismantling the existing structures and returning to a normal anatomical state is important. In particular, handling parts anatomically changed by the previous surgery and checking their state must proceed more carefully and meticulously than a first surgery. What to check when considering revision can be seen in more detail in the revision rhinoplasty guide.

04

How are surgical instruments managed?

Since the nose is a surgery where implants like silicone go in, it's sensitive to inflammation.

Therefore keeping surgical instruments sterile is very important — they must be thoroughly managed through washing and disinfection before and after surgery. It's an invisible part, but a basic step in managing inflammation risk.

05

Summary — scarring is decided by incision design and suturing

First rhinoplasty and revision may look similar in the way in, but the process differs. In a first surgery, the key is reducing the scar through the columellar triangular incision and precise suturing; in revision, it's dismantling existing structures and restoring the anatomical state. Adding sterile instrument management on top reduces inflammation risk.

Whether it's a first surgery or a revision, if you're curious about the procedure that fits your nose's state, it can be checked in a 1:1 video consultation.