Although rhinoplasty is a safe surgery but the same as any other surgical procedure it is associated with some risks and complications. You can minimize these complications in different ways such as quit smoking, follow a healthy diet, stop taking some certain medications and selecting an expert rhinoplasty surgeon.
On the other hand, you should keep it in your mind that nose job is not a perfect procedure, it can enhance your facial balance, improve your appearance and correct structural defects depending on your facial structures.
Usually, people apply for rhinoplasty to improve their nose appearance including nose size, nasal angle with visible humps or depressions on the bridge, straightening of the bridge, reshaping the nasal tip or narrowing nostrils. Nose surgery can also treat breathing problems caused by structural defects or birth defect and other injuries resulting from trauma.
Common rhinoplasty risks and complication
According to statistics, rhinoplasty surgery is associated with some common risks and complications like any other surgery including:
- Infection
- Difficulty breathing
- Bleeding
- Numbness and hardness of the nasal tip
- Anesthesia reactions
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Blood vessels
- Scarring
- Nasal obstruction
- Pain
- Skin complications
Swelling
One of the most common complications of nose surgery is swelling around the nose and eyes. Although it usually subsides after two weeks, some minor swelling may last up to six months post up the surgery.
Bruising
It is another associated complication with rhinoplasty. The degree of the bruising posts up the surgery depending on different factors such as patient sensitivity, the extent of the surgery and even expert of the surgeon. It will go away around 10 days following the surgery.
Pain
Rhinoplasty includes extensive alternation of nasal bone and cartilage that causes some pain and discomfort following the surgery. But usually this pain is minor and pain killer medications can manage the pain.
Bleeding
The nose is containing thin blood vessels which may be damaged during the surgery. Usually, most patients lose about 50 to 150 mL of blood during the operation but if they fail to follow their doctor’s instruction the bleeding can occur post up the surgery. Doctors ask their patient avoid to take some medications that act as a blood thinner such as aspirin or ibuprofen and don’t blow their nose for first days after the surgery.
Skin complications
Some patients may experience skin and soft tissues complications such as fibrosis, atrophy, numbness, cysts originating from displaced mucosa or subcutaneous granulomas because of ointment material.
Nasal obstruction
Since rhinoplasty may make your nose smaller so it can cause difficulty breathing and changes the way you breathe. On the other hand, the scars and blood clots inside the nose can block the airway.
Infection
Infection is another related complication with the nose job same as any other surgery, although it rarely occurs for rhinoplasty patients. The signs of infection are high temperature, abnormal swelling or pain, foul-smelling nasal discharge, and inflammation.
Anesthesia reactions
Throat pain is a commonly associated complication of anesthesia procedure after the surgery. Nausea and vomiting are side effects of anesthesia as well. Some patients may also have allergies reaction to anesthesia medications.
Numbness and hardness of the nasal tip
After rhinoplasty numbness and hardness of the nasal tip are common issues as the nerves to the area are traumatized. It occurs due to swelling, scar tissue and tip cartilage.
Long term rhinoplasty complications
If rhinoplasty performed by an inexperienced surgeon or if multiple nose surgeries are performed, there is a risk of nerve damage.
Unsatisfactory nasal appearance is another long term rhinoplasty complications. It is possible after the surgery the result of the procedure is not the same as what you desire although it mostly happens for people who have unrealistic expectations of the surgery.
Some patient may suffer from a runny nose after the surgery. It is a temporary condition and heals after some weeks but in some cases, it may last for a long time.
General speaking all surgical procedure are not completely safe and they are associated with some risks and side effects. There are also some rhinoplasty risks and complications that some people may experience them following the surgery. But they are varying for different people depending on the kind of the surgery and extent of the surgery. More addition the expert of the surgeon is an important factor that can affect the post-operative risks and complication. By selecting a qualified rhinoplasty surgeon you can minimize the risk of a nose job and ensure to have a safe surgery.
