If revision is on your mind after upturned-nose surgery — regret after one week, is it okay to decide now?

2025. 9. 19.

An answer to a question about regretting surgery 3 days after upturned-nose surgery·hump correction·alar reduction — the recovery process where swelling fades and the look softens, parts that are hard to reverse, and when to judge revision.

Key points

Surgery that greatly changes tip shape — like upturned-nose surgery or hump correction — looks very obvious right after, which can lead to revision worries.
Right after surgery swelling remains and the shape hasn't settled, so judging after waiting at least a few months of recovery rather than deciding on revision right away is better.
Still, a shaved hump is hard to reverse, and other parts also have limits in returning 100% to their original state.

"I had nose surgery a week ago and regretted it within 3 days."

This is a question from someone who originally had a hump nose and an upturned nose with somewhat large nostrils — and had the hump shaved, cartilage osteotomy then tying, and even alar reduction done together. Because the nose was on the higher side originally, they said it bothered them that the rhinoplasty looked very obvious when the splint came off. The hump was a part they'd wanted corrected anyway so it didn't matter — but they asked whether the rest could return to the original, saying the changed image felt unfamiliar and they had many worries.

Because the nose sits at the center of the face, image change after surgery is large — and when it differs from expectations, many feel psychologically flustered or regretful. This article organizes, based on the answer given to that question, when and how to judge post-surgery regret.

Is it strange for the change to look very obvious right after surgery?

Right after nose surgery, upturned-nose surgery or hump correction can greatly change the image — so many feel it looks awkward. At this stage swelling remains and the overall shape hasn't fully settled.

Usually, as swelling subsides and recovery proceeds, the upturned-nose surgery's obviousness fades and it becomes natural. The swelling and changes right after surgery are a natural process, and over time it gradually blends with your original face. Reactions from people around you and your own satisfaction can also change over time — so observing with some patience is good.

When is it good to decide on revision?

Rather than deciding on revision right away at this stage, a bit more time is needed. Organized, it looks like this.

Now (right after surgery) — swelling remains and the shape hasn't settled, so it isn't a point for judging revision or re-correction.
Recovery period — observe with patience whether the obviousness fades and it becomes natural as swelling subsides.
At least a few months later — judging then isn't too late.

Still, the limits must be clearly known too. The shaved hump area is in a corrected state and hard to reverse, and other parts also have limits in returning 100% to their original state. What is checked in revision can be seen in more detail in the revision guide.

By what criteria is surgical scope set for an upturned nose?

Conversely, there are cases where the tip must be extended because it's an upturned nose. For a short nose — especially one with a lifted tip — the tip must be extended with enough slack for the nose's overall line to live and the lower face to appear settled, so how far the tip can be extended becomes an important hinge in surgery.

There's an actual case of someone whose nose was lifted enough that nostrils showed frontally and the nose was small overall. In a small nose like this, the septum is often insufficient for surgical use — so surgery must proceed by securing enough material through rib cartilage or ear cartilage. In this case, as the columella and the whole nose were pulled forward, the bulbousness improved, the alae that had been buried in the cheeks emerged, and even right after surgery with swelling, a change was confirmed where the previous upturned feel had disappeared.

In other words, for upturned-nose correction, extending·correcting as much as needed within a range harmonizing with one's own face matters more than "how much to change."

Summary — not judging hastily comes first

Surgery that greatly changes tip shape like upturned-nose surgery looks obvious right after, easily leading to regret and revision worries. But this stage is one where swelling and recovery are in progress — and many cases naturally stabilize over time. Harmony with one's own face matters more than excessive change, and if needed, revision timing must be coordinated carefully too.

Actual correction cases can be seen in before-and-after photos, and if the recovery course or whether to revise is a worry, you can be checked directly in a 1:1 video-call consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.

I regret it 3 days after surgery — should I look into revision right away?

Right after surgery isn't a point for judgment, since swelling remains and the shape hasn't settled. Usually the obviousness fades and it becomes natural as swelling subsides — so deciding after waiting at least a few months isn't too late.

Can the nose be returned 100% to its pre-surgery original?

The shaved hump area is hard to reverse, and other parts also have limits in returning 100% to their original state. This must be known before judging whether to revise.

Why do rib cartilage·ear cartilage come up for upturned-nose surgery?

When the nose is small and lifted, the septum is often insufficient for surgical use. In that case, surgery proceeds by securing material through rib cartilage or ear cartilage to extend the tip.

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.

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