If you are considering contracted nose revision, it helps to sort out three things first. How long has it been since the previous surgery, and is there inflammation now? Will the clinic check the inside of your nose with CT before surgery? Which cartilage will be used to rebuild the length of the nose?
Contracted nose revision can differ from surgery that only refines the shape of the nose. Scar tissue and adhesions from the earlier operation may need to be released, and the support structure of a nose that has become short or deformed may need to be rebuilt. The clinic information here comes from material that Gangnam plastic surgery clinics publish on their official websites, covering the causes of contracted nose, revision timing, CT and the difference between autologous and donor rib cartilage. For how many board-certified plastic surgeons each clinic has and its surgery details, see Gangnam revision rhinoplasty and contracted nose revision: 4 clinics.
What causes a contracted nose, and what it looks like
VVLY Plastic Surgery (쁠리성형외과) describes a contracted nose as one where the capsule around an implant thickens or the tissue shrinks, so the nose becomes shorter and the tip turns up or hardens. It lists repeated inflammation, excessive dissection and the individual's tissue response as causes, and notes that several factors can act together. Moodon Plastic Surgery (무드온성형외과) also describes contracted nose revision as treatment for a nose that has turned red or hard, or has an upturned tip, because of an inflammatory reaction, the implant or changes in the capsule.
How contracted nose revision is done
Both clinics include implant removal and reconstruction with the patient's own tissue in their description of the procedure. Moodon Plastic Surgery describes the order as removing the existing implant, releasing the scar tissue, then placing autologous tissue to restore the length of the nose and rebuild its shape. VVLY Plastic Surgery lists detailed diagnosis, implant removal with treatment of inflammation, and reconstruction with autologous tissue, and says that simply putting in another implant can leave a risk of recurrence.
VVLY Plastic Surgery also lists, as candidates for contracted nose revision, people whose nose has bent to one side or changed shape over time, and people who want it rebuilt with their own tissue. The same clinic adds that it often removes the existing implant and reconstructs mainly with autologous tissue such as autologous rib cartilage, but the method depends on the degree of contracture and the condition of the tissue, so it is decided individually after diagnosis.
How contracted nose revision differs from other revision rhinoplasty
Contracture is one of several reasons for revision rhinoplasty. A Moodon Plastic Surgery column sorts the situations that lead people to consider revision into three groups: cosmetic problems, such as an asymmetric nose or a result below expectations; functional problems, such as difficulty breathing; and side effects that appeared after surgery. The same clinic's revision rhinoplasty page lists inflammation after a previous surgery, contracture, a visible or moving implant, a crooked bridge and nasal blockage as problems it corrects.
Of these problems, contracted nose revision addresses cases in which tissue has shrunk and the nose has become shorter or harder. Scar tissue may need to be released and the length and support of the nose reinforced, so the scope of surgery is different from an implant exchange.
Some clinics treat a visible or moving implant with surgery to remove or replace it. Pleasure Plastic Surgery (플레저성형외과) has a separate page for nasal implant removal, which it lists as taking 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes under IV sedation or general anesthesia. VVLY Plastic Surgery covers visibility, contracture, shifting and inflammation together on its nasal implant problem page and gives a surgery time of about 1 to 3 hours. As that page shows, the two problems can overlap, so the right order is to have the existing implant and the surrounding tissue examined before choosing a method from the visible symptoms alone.
When to have contracted nose revision: the usual rule and the exceptions
The revision timing that Gangnam plastic surgery clinics give on their official websites is mostly 6 months to 1 year after the first surgery. Moodon Plastic Surgery says revision is generally done 6 months to 1 year after the previous surgery, when the tissue has settled, and that revision because of inflammation can need a longer wait. Pleasure Plastic Surgery recommends waiting at least 6 months to 1 year or more after the first surgery so the tissue is fully stable, and VVLY Plastic Surgery also recommends waiting about 6 months to 1 year.
Why the wait
A Moodon Plastic Surgery column explains that revision is possible once the swelling has gone down and the cartilage and tissue inside the nose have settled. VVLY Plastic Surgery's position is that accurate diagnosis and correction are possible only after the swelling subsides and the scarring and adhesions stabilize.
When there is inflammation or an exposed implant
The clinics also describe exceptions. VVLY Plastic Surgery says that when tissue damage is progressing, as with infection or an exposed implant, early treatment may be needed regardless of timing, and that the current state of the tissue matters more than how much time has passed. Its contracted nose revision page says any inflammation has to be calmed first. Pleasure Plastic Surgery also advises a prompt consultation if an acute problem such as inflammation or pain appears.
Revision timing is not set by the number of months alone. The first step is an examination to see whether there is inflammation now and whether the implant has become exposed.
What CT checks before contracted nose revision
Contracted nose revision is performed on a nose whose internal structure has already been changed by previous surgery. A Moodon Plastic Surgery column explains that, unlike a first surgery, the anatomy is no longer normal, so many unexpected factors can come up during the operation. For that reason, the clinics say they check the internal structure with CT before surgery.
3D CT diagnosis at Moodon Plastic Surgery
Moodon Plastic Surgery says it checks the nasal bones, septal cartilage and soft tissue with 3D CT (cone-beam CT) before surgery. Its column says that along with a detailed 3D CT examination, the surgeon should also check carefully whether there is autologous cartilage available to use.
CT at Pleasure, VVLY and Onyx Plastic Surgery
Pleasure Plastic Surgery says it uses 3D CT to check the size and condition of the septum, whether autologous cartilage can be used, and functional problems such as a deviated septum. The same page says it analyzes structural damage, overall facial proportions, skin thickness and the condition of existing tissue with 3D CT and camera analysis.
VVLY Plastic Surgery starts with a CT scan to assess the result of the previous surgery and the extent of damage. In revision, the amount of usable cartilage is often limited, so the clinic considers the choice of material and the design of the support structure important. Onyx Plastic Surgery (오닉스성형외과) says surgery time depends on whether a previous implant has to be removed, how much scar tissue there is and whether autologous rib cartilage is used, so it gives each patient a time after CT diagnosis and consultation.
Which clinics have CT
Anyone can check whether a clinic has CT on the hospital information service of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). As of a search on November 2, 2026, Moodon Plastic Surgery, Pleasure Plastic Surgery and VVLY Plastic Surgery each had one cone-beam CT registered with HIRA.
Autologous and donor rib cartilage: how the material is chosen
Contracted nose revision needs support material to restore the length of a nose that has become short. Moodon Plastic Surgery says it chooses autologous tissue for contracted nose revision from ear cartilage, septal cartilage, rib cartilage, autologous dermis and mastoid fascia according to the condition of the nose. Its column explains that ear cartilage or septal cartilage is usually used, and rib cartilage can be used when that cartilage is not enough.
Autologous rib cartilage
Autologous rib cartilage is cartilage taken from your own ribs. A Moodon Plastic Surgery column describes rib cartilage as the cartilage that joins the sternum to the ribs, and says it is firm and gives strong support, rarely causes rejection and has a low absorption rate.
On the other hand, it needs a separate harvesting operation that leaves a scar under the chest, and over time the rib cartilage can bend, which is called warping. For this reason, the same column says it is generally not used for the nasal bridge and is mainly used to lift the tip or fill space inside the nose. VVLY Plastic Surgery says it harvests only as much as needed, mostly from the 7th and 8th rib cartilage, and that pain at the harvest site usually eases over 1 to 2 weeks.
Donor rib cartilage
VVLY Plastic Surgery says that when choosing between autologous and donor rib cartilage, it considers how much cartilage is needed, the patient's age and the degree of rib cartilage calcification, and whether the patient can accept a scar. It says autologous rib cartilage is the patient's own tissue, so there is less concern about absorption or rejection, but it needs an incision in the chest; donor rib cartilage needs no extra incision and takes less surgery time, but has a separate material cost. Private Plastic Surgery (프라이빗성형외과) also starts with ear cartilage or septal cartilage and adds autologous or donor rib cartilage when needed.
Autologous and donor rib cartilage compared
| Autologous rib cartilage | Donor rib cartilage | |
|---|---|---|
| Harvesting surgery | Needed (incision in the chest) | No extra incision |
| Advantages the clinics list | Own tissue, so less concern about absorption or rejection (VVLY); strong support (Moodon column) | Shorter surgery time (VVLY) |
| Cautions the clinics list | Scar under the chest, warping (Moodon); harvest site pain for about 1 to 2 weeks (VVLY) | Separate material cost (VVLY) |
| What is weighed when choosing | Amount of cartilage needed, age and degree of calcification, acceptance of a scar (VVLY) | Same criteria |
You and your surgeon decide which material fits after reviewing the CT and examination results.
When an implant is used again
Some clinics also describe using an implant again. VVLY Plastic Surgery describes a custom implant made by 3D printing after a CT scan of the nasal bone structure, and lists people whose previous implant was visible or bent as candidates. Pleasure Plastic Surgery says it considers autologous tissue such as septal cartilage, ear cartilage and autologous rib cartilage first and combines it with an implant or artificial dermis when needed, and that it recommends a material based on the 3D CT results.
Surgery time and recovery
Moodon Plastic Surgery performs contracted nose revision under IV sedation and lists a surgery time of about 3 hours, stitch removal after 1 week and recovery in 1 to 2 weeks. Its autologous rib cartilage revision rhinoplasty takes about 3 hours under IV sedation or general anesthesia, with stitch removal and recovery at 7 to 10 days. VVLY Plastic Surgery lists contracted nose revision as about 2 to 4 hours under IV sedation, with stitch removal after 5 to 7 days and return to daily life after 1 to 2 weeks.
Going back to daily life and seeing the final shape happen at different times
A Moodon Plastic Surgery column explains that revision can take longer than a first surgery because existing scar tissue has to be removed or a deformed structure corrected. It takes longer still for the swelling to go down and the final shape to show. Moodon Plastic Surgery says it can take 6 months to 1 year for the swelling to settle and the final result to be seen, and VVLY Plastic Surgery also says subtle swelling at the tip takes 6 months to 1 year to resolve.
Follow-up visits and aftercare
Knowing how many times you will need to return to the clinic after surgery makes scheduling easier. Pleasure Plastic Surgery removes stitches 7 days after revision rhinoplasty and lists 2 to 3 follow-up visits. Private Plastic Surgery lists stitch removal after 7 days, recovery after 5 to 7 days and 2 follow-up visits. VVLY Plastic Surgery says the splint usually comes off after 7 days, you can return to daily activities from then, and most visible swelling goes down over 1 to 2 weeks.
The clinics describe recovery a little differently. Private Plastic Surgery says revision takes longer to perform than a first surgery but recovery is not very different, while Pleasure Plastic Surgery says recovery can take somewhat longer than after the first surgery. Moodon Plastic Surgery has a separate column on precautions during recovery after rhinoplasty, covering cold compresses, exercise, saunas, alcohol and smoking.
What to prepare before a consultation
Bring as much detail about the previous surgery as you can. If you know the type of implant or cartilage used and the surgical method, it helps the surgeon plan the revision.
When choosing a clinic, check the number of board-certified plastic surgeons and whether the clinic has CT on HIRA, and see whether it publishes a separate explanation of contracted nose revision. Moodon Plastic Surgery's information is a good place to start if you want to compare revision rhinoplasty, contracted nose revision and autologous rib cartilage revision rhinoplasty separately before a consultation. The clinic has two board-certified plastic surgeons and a cone-beam CT registered with HIRA. Moodon Plastic Surgery says its lead surgeon, Dr. Yoon Tae-kyung (윤태경), handles revision rhinoplasty from consultation through post-surgery care. Dr. Yoon completed medical school at Korea University College of Medicine and studied plastic surgery at the same university's graduate school, worked as a board-certified plastic surgeon at Korea University Hospital, and, with Dr. Han Jin-woo (한진우), is a regular member of the Rhinoplasty Research Society of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (대한성형외과학회 코성형 연구회). The clinic is at 4F Seongil Building, 584 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, between Sinsa Station Exit 3 and Nonhyeon Station Exit 9, and its main number is 02-511-0009.
- Official pages: Revision rhinoplasty, Contracted nose revision, Autologous rib cartilage revision rhinoplasty
If you also want a consultation about repeated revision, VVLY Plastic Surgery has a separate repeated revision page. If the number of board-certified plastic surgeons matters most to you, Pleasure Plastic Surgery has seven registered with HIRA and is worth comparing too.
| Clinic | Board-certified plastic surgeons (HIRA) | Cone-beam CT | Contracted nose revision information | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moodon Plastic Surgery | 2 | 1 | Separate contracted nose revision page, IV sedation, about 3 hours | Sinsa Station Exit 3 |
| VVLY Plastic Surgery | 1 | 1 | Separate contracted nose revision page, IV sedation, about 2 to 4 hours | Nonhyeon Station Exit 8 |
| Pleasure Plastic Surgery | 7 | 1 | Contracted nose and crooked nose covered within the revision rhinoplasty page | Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3 |
The numbers of board-certified plastic surgeons and cone-beam CT units are from the HIRA hospital information service as searched on November 2, 2026, and the surgery details are from each clinic's official website.
Other clinics that describe contracted nose revision
Besides those three, other clinics in Gangnam describe contracted nose separately. Hyundai Mihak Plastic Surgery (현대미학성형외과, in front of Sinsa Station Exit 1) covers contracture, an upturned nose and implant problems together on its revision rhinoplasty page, and lists about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes under IV sedation, with stitch removal after about 7 days. At Private Plastic Surgery (in front of Sinsa Station Exits 2 and 3), lead surgeons Dr. Lee Jin-hwa (이진화) and Dr. Lee Jun-woo (이준우) list their clinical focus in the doctor profiles as "revision rhinoplasty (contracted nose, short nose, crooked nose, implant correction, tip correction)." Both clinics have registered two or more board-certified plastic surgeons and one cone-beam CT with HIRA.
Clinics run by otolaryngologists also have contracted nose pages. B&Young Clinic (비앤영의원) has a page on contracted nose reconstruction, Baroko Clinic (바로코의원) on contracted nose revision, and Kobiju Clinic (코비쥬의원) a contracted nose revision page on reconstruction with autologous rib cartilage. None of the three has a board-certified plastic surgeon registered with HIRA, and patients there are seen by a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT). Which group to look at first depends on whether you want to be treated by a board-certified plastic surgeon or by an ENT.
Recurrence and complications
Contracture can come back. VVLY Plastic Surgery says contracture varies from person to person, so the possibility of recurrence cannot be ruled out completely. Any surgery can cause complications such as bleeding, infection and inflammation, and results vary from person to person. Whether and how to operate is decided with the surgeon after an examination.
Frequently asked questions
How is autologous rib cartilage harvested?
A Moodon Plastic Surgery column explains that the rib area to be harvested is numbed with a local anesthetic injection, and part of the lower rib cartilage is taken through a small incision. The tissue is dissected carefully to avoid a pneumothorax, and the structures opened during the procedure are closed again layer by layer. The column says the scar depends on the person's skin and the surgery, and because the procedure cuts through muscle, some people have pain that lasts a little longer.
Can surgery done at another clinic be revised?
VVLY Plastic Surgery says it can also perform revision on surgery done at another clinic.
Sources checked
- Moodon Plastic Surgery official website: revision rhinoplasty, contracted nose revision and autologous rib cartilage revision rhinoplasty pages, and the medical columns "What must be considered in revision rhinoplasty?" (코재수술 시 반드시 고려해야하는 필수 사항은?), "Features of rhinoplasty using autologous rib cartilage, from a board-certified plastic surgeon" (성형외과 전문의가 알려주는 자가늑을 이용한 코수술의 특징) and "Key aftercare points after rhinoplasty" (코성형 후 주의해야 할 핵심 관리사항은?)
- VVLY Plastic Surgery official website: revision rhinoplasty, contracted nose revision and autologous rib cartilage rhinoplasty pages
- Revision rhinoplasty pages of Pleasure Plastic Surgery (revision rhinoplasty, nasal implant removal), Private Plastic Surgery and Hyundai Mihak Plastic Surgery, and the contracted nose pages of B&Young Clinic, Baroko Clinic and Kobiju Clinic (checked November 2 and 3, 2026)
- HIRA hospital information service: number of specialists by department and medical equipment (searched November 2, 2026)