A nose job can dramatically improve your facial profile–changes that you feel suit your face and create symmetry with all your other features. In the process, though, rhinoplasty might cause some unwanted side effects or complications. We’ll lay out the facts about some of the potential complications and side effects so you can decide if rhinoplasty is right for you.
Rhinoplasty Side Effects
Some of the common rhinoplasty side effects include:
1. Swelling
While your most intense swelling will likely go down after a few weeks, some swelling can linger. At eight weeks post-operation, you’ll have about 50% less swelling than immediately after your surgery. By one year, you should see swelling improve by 90 to 95%.
Keep in mind that your results will still be there even if you have swelling, so you can typically see the shape of your final results between three to eight weeks. Your surgeon will want to schedule follow-up appointments to check your progress. If they notice any abnormal healing or problems with structure, they can address it sooner rather than later.
2. Bruising
You’ll probably have bruising of some sort after rhinoplasty; however, this is typical after surgery and generally heals after one to two weeks–three at the most. By the time you can return to work, your bruising should be minimal.
3. Numbness
A temporary side effect is the loss of sensation or feelings of numbness in the surgical area. It’s possible rhinoplasty may damage nerves during surgery. The good news is that the nerves are quick to heal and will likely improve over the first month or two post-surgery.
4. Anesthesia Side Effects
Immediately after surgery, you may have nausea. This side effect is courtesy of the anesthesia from surgery and possibly your prescription pain medication. Anesthesia may also cause some other issues, like making it difficult to have regular bowel movements.
5. Pain
The most dreaded effect of any surgery is pain. While anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery, it will all depend on pain medication to avoid pain while you begin your recovery at home. Fortunately, your pain won’t last; it should improve a lot after the first three days. By one week post-op, your pain levels will likely be much lower. You may still have tenderness for several weeks, but at this point, the more intense pain is in your past.
6. Stuffy Nose
It isn’t uncommon to feel like your nose is extra stuffy or difficult to breathe through after rhinoplasty. Sometimes, this feeling is due to gauze in your nose (to absorb any bleeding). It may also be from the splint Dr. Santos places to support your nose as it heals after surgery. Or it could be down to the fact that your nose is inflamed and swollen from surgery. Whatever the cause, your stuffy nose is temporary and should get better after a week or so–or as soon as Dr. Santos removes the bandages and surgical splint.
7. Sinusitis
Scar tissue that forms after rhinoplasty, along with swelling, problems healing, and narrowing nasal passages, may cause sinusitis. Since your nose is so close to the sinus cavities, you might develop a sinus infection after surgery.
Rhinoplasty Complications That May Require Revision/Surgeon Intervention
Just as the possible side effects of rhinoplasty are rare, so are the potential complications after surgery, such as:
8. Scarring
No one wants scarring to be part of the long-term effects of rhinoplasty. When you picture your nose after surgery, you should imagine a better proportioned, more symmetric feature–not have a fear of what scar may form from the procedure.
While scarring is possible with any surgery, you can take one major precaution to avoid it–choose a qualified surgeon. Dr. Santos of Seattle Plastic Surgery specializes in facial procedures like rhinoplasty. His experience allows him to consider each patient’s unique needs and place incisions in the most discreet locations.
9. Infection
Another potential complication of any procedure is infection. The best way to limit your chances of germs and bacteria entering your surgical incision(s) is to follow all of Dr. Santos’ post-op care instructions, including keeping the area around your nose clean, touching it as little as possible, and making sure you change your bandages as often as he recommends.
10. Nasal Damage/Structure Issues
Rhinoplasty is a surgery that will literally change the shape and structure of your nose. This can be a scary thing to face, but choosing a qualified surgeon can help you feel more at ease. Choosing a surgeon who doesn’t specialize in facial procedures or someone who has limited experience with nose jobs may mean you’re risking damage to your nasal pathways and potential structure issues, which can lead to more surgery–and stress.
11. Asymmetry
One of the main benefits of rhinoplasty is a nose that better suits you and blends well with your other facial features. If a knowledgeable surgeon doesn’t perform your surgery, you might not like the outcome of your surgery. This may mean scheduling a revision surgery with a skilled surgeon so they can correct the first attempt at rhinoplasty.
12. Bony Callus
This complication happens as your nose heals from rhinoplasty, especially if you had a procedure to narrow the bones in your nose. During healing, you may start to notice a slight bump in your nose. As the nasal bones heal and begin to fuse back together, they may slightly overlap, causing a bump to appear. Fortunately, a bony callus doesn’t always mean you have to have revision surgery. A quick procedure to shave down the bone may be all that’s needed to create a smooth, aesthetic nose.
13. Improper Healing
It’s rare, but sometimes, noses don’t heal well after rhinoplasty. Whether it’s because the patient doesn’t follow post-procedure instructions or because of the way their nasal bones heal, they might not be happy with their outcome.
To get good results, choose a surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty. The simple act of picking a surgeon like Dr. Santos, who has years of facial surgery experience, greatly lowers the risk of complications after rhinoplasty.
How Common Is Revision Rhinoplasty?
Some patients may need revision surgery if they have any of the complications we mentioned above; however, the need for revision surgery due to complications is pretty rare. The main reason patients may need or choose revision rhinoplasty is to deal with a nose that doesn’t look the way they want it to. This is often due to the nose healing improperly, though the source may be an outdated surgical technique or a surgeon with limited experience.
Talk To The Experts At Seattle Plastic Surgery About Rhinoplasty Side Effects And Complications
Are you concerned about possible nose job side effects and complications? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Santos, one of the many qualified providers at Seattle Plastic Surgery. Dr. Santos will assess your current health condition and use his extensive facial surgery expertise to determine if rhinoplasty may be a good choice for you.
You’ll also have the chance to ask about complications and side effects and how Dr. Santos would handle these situations. The opportunity to ask questions will help you feel more at ease about your surgical decisions.
Call Seattle Plastic Surgery today at (206) 324-1120 or book your consultation on our website.
Dr. Jonov is a cosmetic surgeon who specializes in plastic surgeries of the face, breast, and body at Seattle Plastic Surgery.
