Put in 1mm of silicone then removed it, but the nose won't return to original — is there a reason to do revision again
2024. 2. 19.
If 1mm of silicone was inserted closed then removed and 5 years have passed, organized what revision can restore. Explains why redoing the same surgery is misguided if the old look wasn't satisfying.
Key points
- Even if 1mm of silicone was inserted closed then removed, whether the current nose is the same as before surgery must be confirmed by examination and comparison with old photos.
- The order "if the original look can't return, then silicone again as a fallback" is hard to stand — if the look then wasn't satisfying, there's no reason to recreate the same result.
- Before deciding revision, distinguishing whether what you want back is 'the pre-surgery nose' or 'the post-surgery nose' comes first.
"5 years ago I put 1mm of silicone in the bridge then removed it. But it doesn't seem to return to the original look. Should I do nose revision again?"
Among the questions that came into KOWON Plastic Surgery was this concern. Surgery was done closed without osteotomy, 1mm of silicone was inserted then removed, and 5 years had passed with nothing inside since. The previously inserted silicone was kept but is broken — the content was wanting to return to the pre-surgery look as the best case, or the look with silicone as a fallback.
01
If 1mm of silicone was inserted then removed, what state is the nose in now?
The first thing to confirm is how much that surgery changed the nasal structure.
In this question's case it was done closed, and the operating doctor also explained no osteotomy for silicone fixation was performed. The inserted silicone was also 1mm. Still, with this information alone you can't conclude the current nose is the same as before surgery. The removal process, scar tissue, and changes in skin and soft tissue must be seen directly and compared with old photos.
So even if you feel "it doesn't return to the original look," rather than the structure having greatly changed, the possibility that the current nose is close to the original nose needs to be considered together.
02
Why is the choice "silicone as a fallback if the original can't return" misguided?
The question listed an order: best is before surgery, fallback is when silicone was in. Yet within the same question it also says the look when silicone was in wasn't satisfying either.
These two sentences are hard to stand together — because the target you want to fall back to is already a result you weren't satisfied with.
| What you want now | How it's judged |
|---|---|
| The nose with silicone back then was satisfying | Choosing to reinsert silicone the same way is possible |
| The nose then wasn't satisfying either | There's no reason to redo surgery creating the same result |
| The original pre-surgery nose was good | Living without surgery may be better |
In summary, the starting point of judgment isn't "revise or not" but which point in time the nose you want to return to is. In what order nasal structure and support state are checked can also be seen in the nasal tip procedure guide.
03
Would the result differ if you change hospitals?
The question also asked whether results differ between surgery at a university hospital versus in Gangnam, and whether outcomes come out similar even with a different doctor.
Something must be decided before this question. In a state where what result is the goal isn't set, comparing where surgery is done yields no answer. If the current state is close to the original nose and that original nose was good, the option of not redoing surgery at all can be fully considered.
04
Summary — first decide which point in time you want to return to
When time has passed since silicone removal and you feel "it doesn't seem to return to original," revision tends to come to mind first. But if it was 1mm inserted closed then removed, the current nose may already be close to the original nose. If the look then wasn't satisfying either, there's little reason to redo the same surgery — and if the original nose was good, the option of living without surgery exists.
If you want to confirm which side your current nose state falls on, you can get checked directly in a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
Does inserting then removing 1mm of silicone closed deform the nose?
The previously inserted silicone broke — can it be reused as-is?
It's been 5 years — can nose revision still be done now?
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.