Rhinoplasty, like any surgical procedure, exposes to complications.

These are usually more common in the context of secondary rhinoplasty, hyaluronic acid injection, smoking and a history of drug use by nasal inhalation.

This page is intended to serve as a basis for discussion to measure the benefit/risk balance, especially in the case of secondary rhinoplasty.

Short-term complications (less than 1 month)

Infection

This usually occurs between 2 and 4 weeks post-operative. This is manifested by redness and edema of the nose appearing suddenly as the nose began to deflate. It is an interesting complication of 3% of patients who can cause aesthetic sequelae if it is not treated appropriately.

Skin suffering

This is a very rare complication that is generally of interest to patients with very deteriorated skin by many operations. This risk is significantly increased in case of smoking and in case of a history of injection of hyaluronic acid into the nose.

Long-term complications (more than 1 month)

Disappointment for insufficient aesthetic result

Rhinoplasty is an intervention of great technical difficulty, with intense healing and retraction phenomena that will come into play in the surgical consequences, especially in the case of secondary rhinoplasty or significant nasal reduction.
It therefore happens that the result does not live up to the wishes of patients.

Asymmetry of the nose

During a rhinoplasty, the surgeon always ensures the perfect symmetry of the structures at the very end of the procedure.
Unfortunately, it often happens that with healing, tissues lose their symmetry in the months following the operation, a fortiori on a very asymmetrical base nose.
The most frequent asymmetries are located at the level of the tip, the wings of the nose and the nostrils.
It should be noted that in the vast majority of cases, post-operative asymmetry was already present before the operation.

Residual nasal deviation

Grafts that can be put in place, especially in secondary rhinoplasty, can twist in the weeks following the operation, especially in the case of a rib graft, and lead to a deviation of the nose.

Dorsal irregularity

As in an unoperated nose, it is common - and normal - to feel the underlying osteocartinous structure.
In case of bone callus, structural asymmetry and displaced graft, it will be easily felt by passing the finger.

Scars and grafts

It is normal to feel the grafts that have been used to strengthen the deficit cartilage.
In the same way, endonasal scars can be felt by passing the finger.

Risk factors

  • Secondary rhinoplasties
  • Hyaluronic acid injections
  • Smoking
  • Drug use by nasal inhalation

As a reminder

Concerning an operation, it is strongly recommended:

  • To have several opinions before having surgery.
  • To have surgery performed by a rhinoplasty specialist.

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