Risks and Complications of Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty

Possible Risks & Complications

Possible complications from rhinoplasty

There are a number of risks and complications specific to rhinoplasty. They are:

  • Red spots on your skin's surface.  These are caused by burst, small blood vessels. The red spots are usually temporary, but they are permanent in some cases.
  • Scarring - When rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose ("Closed Rhinoplasty") the scars will be on the inside of the nose. The scars won't be visible, but you may be able to feel them for a while after surgery.  Some surgeons utilize an "open" technique, where a small incision is make across the base of the nose known as the "columella." The columella is the vertical strip of tissue that separates the nostrils. This "open" procedure may result in a small scar on the underside of the nose.
  • Revision rhinoplasty - In around ten percent of cases, the patient needs to have additional minor surgery to correct a slight deformity.

After surgery, small burst blood vessels may appear as tiny red spots on the skin's surface; these are usually minor but may be permanent. As for scarring, when rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose, there is no visible scarring at all; when an "open" technique is used, or when the procedure calls for the narrowing of flared nostrils, the small scars on the base of the nose are usually not visible.

In about one case out of ten, a second procedure may be required-for example, to correct a minor deformity. Such cases are unpredictable and happen even to patients of the most skilled surgeons. The corrective surgery is usually minor.

 

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