Are There Risks or Complications with Rhinoplasty?

The answer to “are there risks or complications with rhinoplasty?” is “there may be,” depending on certain factors. This cosmetic nose surgery has its own share of possible risks just like any other surgery. As a patient, it is your duty to ensure that your plastic surgeon discusses these possibilities with you at the initial consultation. Most of the time, side effects of the procedure are not serious, so there is no cause for concern. If the physician has a lot of experience performing rhinoplasty, and if you correctly follow his instructions for pre- and post-operative care, the side effects can be minimized. Possible Rhinoplasty Surgery Side Effects • Pain – The post-surgical pain is usually a minor discomfort and over-the-counter analgesics would be adequate to deal with this pain. • Ruptured Blood Vessels – These small blood vessels may appear as small red specks on the surface of the skin. Though mostly temporary, they can be permanent too. • Bruising – Bruising is typically limited to the region around the eyes and may be there for a maximum of 10 days. The amount of bruising would depend on the degree of surgery, and patient sensitivity. • Infection – It is a very rare complication. If an infection should arise, it can be easily treated with antibiotics. Granuloma, cellulitis and abscesses can be treated with drainage and antibiotics. • Bleeding – Nasal packing may be required to bring it under control. • Abnormal Shape – A mistake of the plastic surgeon can leave the patient with a scooped out nose, polly beak, pug nose or pinched tip. The strangeness of shape can also result from sleeping on one side and not keeping the head properly elevated. However, the shape can be set right with a revisional procedure. • Swelling – This side effect is not something to worry about as it will subside with time. • Scars – There will be scars but these will either be hidden (if you had a closed procedure) or almost invisible to the naked eye (if you had an open procedure). • Nasal Septum Perforation – If the surgery is performed by an expert plastic surgeon, this complication is not likely. However, if it should arise, there would either be no need to treat it or it may cause a feeling of nasal obstruction, crust development and rarely, a cosmetic abnormality. Other Side Effects The other possible side effects from rhinoplasty are septal hematoma, serious allergic reaction to anesthesia, numbness, permanent nerve damage, reactions to medication, loss of structural support, skin necrosis, loss of smell, discoloration, skin irregularities, slow healing, depression and Toxic Shock Syndrome. Depends on the Individual The risks or complications associated with rhinoplasty vary with individual patients. If you intend to get the procedure done, you should go for a plastic surgeon who performs the procedure successfully and quite frequently and has done so in the past too. He should have a good bedside manner and be providing services from an AAAASF accredited plastic surgery center.