What are the risks of Rhinoplasty Surgery?

General Surgery Risks

General Anaesthesia – Most healthy patients respond well to general anaesthesia as modern techniques are very safe. Our team will provide you with the details of your anaesthetists prior to your surgery to discuss any specific concerns.

Infection – Your Surgeon will prescribe you with antibiotics and monitor you closely.

Delayed Wound Healing – Your Surgeon and Nurse coordinator will manage the healing process. This usually occurs within patients who are overweight, smokers or who have an infection.

Bleeding (Haematoma) or Seroma (Fluid Build Up)– May require a second visit to the operating theatre to remove blood clots or blood pooling.

Poor Healing or Scarring –  Scars continue to mature and improve for up to 18 months after surgery.

Numbness, Pain or Tingling – This often occurs in the treated area, but typically settles over a period of months to a few years.

Discomfort – This will be managed appropriately with during-surgery anaesthetic, post-op pain medications and other post-op care recommendations.

Remember, all surgery has risks. Nothing is ever guaranteed in science and medicine and you’ll need to allow for individual variances in outcomes, surgery experiences, scars, healing and recovery times and risks.

Nose Surgery: Specific Rhinoplasty Surgery Risks

Risks specific to a nose job include but may not be limited to:

Nasal Function changes – potentially long-lasting or even permanent changes to your scent perceptions/olfactory processes or sinuses

Vocal changes – possible temporary or longer-term changes to the sound of voice for some patients depending on nose blockages/bone anatomy/vocal chamber/sinuses

Asymmetry – potential irregularity or asymmetry of your nose shape, nose bridge or nose tip after surgery

Perforation – nasal septal perforation (hole)

Bridge – may remain crooked or uneven, may not end up perfectly straight; bumps or humps may remain

Skin or Scars – skin could look different after surgery; e.g. visible scars and/or skin discolouration are possible

Breathing – some patients may have difficulty breathing for an extended period

Revision – requests for revisions are not uncommon for nose surgery; some patients may not like the way their ideal nose shape actually looks in relation to their other features OR the way it changes their entire facial appearance including eyes and smile. Often, revision requests relate to holding unrealistic expectations, however, some revision surgery may be medically or aesthetically warranted (this is at a secondary surgery cost)

Summary of Nose Surgery Risks

Some nose surgery risks can be mitigated – others may occur randomly or despite the best in care.

• Risks are minimised through careful patient screening and planning, high standards of surgical training, hospital-grade sterilisation protocols and aftercare
• Small, less serious complications such as infection may occur more commonly than more serious risks
• Be sure you read the materials your Surgeon provides before you sign a consent
• Second opinions are often helpful
• Visually-aided discussions may include 3D imaging or photography manipulation discussions during planning stages; these are helpful discussion tools but are NOT predictive

Whatever risks or concerns you have after having Rhinoplasty, your Surgeon will aim to resolve them for you.

• You must keep your expectations in check with what’s actually possible with surgical methods AND never, ever smoke pre-surgery or after your operation)
• Most, but not all, potential complications will have long term effects on your surgery results
• Ask your Surgeon for specific details or care practices should you experience a complication OR have an elevated surgery risk profile (revisions, broken noses, underlying health conditions, skin problems, allergies or other issues)
• Do Not Smoke for at least 3-6 months before having nose surgery and for at least 2 years after surgery; otherwise, your surgery experience, rhinoplasty results and recovery processes (including breathing) could be severely compromised

Rhinoplasty Procedure Details – visit this page to download the FREE PDF information e-book on nose surgery for men or women.

Further readings

• Rhinoplasty – Nose Job – Nose Reshaping Surgery
• How much does Rhinoplasty Cost? Nose Job Prices in Melbourne
• Will Medicare cover my Rhinoplasty or Nose Job?

Other Rhinoplasty resources:

ASPS Nose Pages

ASPS USA Nose Pages