Did you lose facial fat after rhinoplasty?

kusickam 15 Feb 2009

Hi Katie, I have a similar situation as you. I had a revision rhinoplasty about 2 years ago and noticed that once the swelling subsided and my nose was finished "modelling", that there was a significant decrease in facial fat - particularly in the cheek/under eye area. I have never had what one might call a full face, but notice that is has become more gaunt and drawn than it was prior to the surgery. (i also realize that I am aging and am not against the argument that the aging process has something to do with it). My nose did not change significantly (i.e. was really large and made smaller), I just had a bump removed. I have that other people of all ages notice this unfortunate side effect after rhinoplasty. I believe it has not been studied by anyone in the medical field which is why most doctors claim it's due to aging or other features becoming more 'apparent' after a nose job. I am only 33 and feel I look older than I am. I am considering cheek implants - even though I abhor the idea of more surgery. I don't want high cheekbones, just a permanent solution to a thin, haggard face.

Charlie C 19 Feb 2009

I am 26 and was 25 when the swelling from my rhinoplasty subsided and feel like my face looks very gaunt- my eyes look hollow and I have significant nasolabial folds I never had before. The plastic surgeon assured me that this did not make sense as a result of the surgery, but I am now convinced it was. I don't think I happened to age this much in the last year. I actually did have a significant reduction, and thought maybe just having that much more skin could have caused part of this. I would really appreciate some MD's advice. I feel vain, but convinced I look far more aged than I should at this age, with permanent folds and a gaunt face, and wondering what kind of solution would be best. I don't want to do injections every 4 months for the rest of my life either...

(unregistered guest) 2 Mar 2009

the same has happened to me! no doctor will acknowledge this...they will say you muat have lost some weight or you must be tired...charlie c please mail me

Charlie C 3 Mar 2009

I cannot seem to message you directly - you might have to change your settings in your account... feel free to message me!

Jane A 20 Mar 2009

My whole eye area and mid face became hollow after rhinoplsty. I didn't lose weight, I just lost facial fat and aged about 10 years. I wish I never touched my nose as a result. There is a very well respected facial & ocuplastic surgeon in Beverley Hills that does lower eyelid restylane for people who experience this sort of post-rhino hollownes. He says that it can (and does) happen! It's more common than people think, sadly.

Charlie C 21 Mar 2009

this is very interesting. I think there are some permanent effects to swelling/trauma that aren't well understood. It's useful to have this community because drs still deny it and until seeing a similar post on here, i had no idea it happened to others.

Mstar 30 Mar 2009

Hi Jane, I was wondering if you could message me and let me know of the name of the ocuplastic surgeon in Beverly Hills? For some reason I am unable to message you. Thanks!

serenap 17 Apr 2009

hi jane what is the name of this beverley hill surgeon...i have the same problem as you

Sad 20 Mar 2009

OMG - I had the same thing done two years ago -sinus surgery, turbinoplasty, rhinoplasty (though all they did was shave a bump)and wow does make face look so empty and the left side is so much worse. I actually look strange when I smile because I have so much skin that has to be lifted. I shy away from overhead lights because that's when it really shows. Why does nobody let you know this could happen? I think I would have lived with my sinus problems had I known I would look like an sick person. I weigh 12 pounds more now than when I had my surgery so I know it is not a weight loss issue and I take extremely good care of my skin too. I am contemplating a filler but am scared to death to look overdone, not to mention the cost involved.

Mstar 29 Mar 2009

You know, the same thing happened to me! I had my septum straightened and my turbinates reduced (not a rhinoplasty)and a few months after the surgery I noticed the skin under my eyes starting to sag (I also noticed drainage as well). My theory is that after the surgery the sinuses are able to drain properly, but no ENT doctor has been able to give me an answer. Very frustrating!

Mstar 1 Apr 2009

Hi Jane, thank you for messaging me!! I will definitely give him a call!! :-)

3302anon 5 Jun 2010

THis happened to me as well. In profile pictures it looks as though the skin of my lower face is drooping. In addition my upper lip seems much longer and doess not move as it did before. My doctor just denys that this is due to the rhinoplasty. He said that he did not touch any facial muscles. I asked for the post op report and it does not say anything about touching the mucles however I also noticed a few lies in the report as well. So I have my doubts.

Robyn7074 11 Dec 2010

I have had a rhinoplasty and same thing happened. I just can't believe dr.s deny it when it has a complete physiological sound and logical explation. During any rhinoplasty, if cuts have occured, blood vessels can be decreased or destroyed. These blood vessels send blood to the under eye area and sides of nose. An over aggressive nose job could lead to atrophy of parts of the face, just as any limb gets atrophy when blood flow is disrupted. That is when you see sagging skin and hollowed sockets. I am frustrated Docs don't acknowledge this and research how to solve it instead of ignoring it and leaving people chaged and depressed. Unbelievable.

Robyn7074 11 Dec 2010

By the way, face exercise and massage seem to be the only way to improve the outcome somewhat.

tiamaria 19 Apr 2011

Hi,

I'm not sure if I'm imagining it or not but Im sure my face has changed after my revision. I can't quite put my finger on it but it feels like the lower cheek area on my face looks weird. Everytime I look in the mirror I can't help but get upset. Do you think it's all in my head or is it actually possible that my lower face has changed.

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do about it because I don't want to spend the rest of my life feeling or looking like this!!!

lea75marie 26 Jun 2011

OMG I am so glad I came across this!
I had rhinoplasty 4 months ago and my face looks {I don't like using this word but}weird I am devastated I am more recluse now then before my op.....people look at me weird like confusion but friends and family say it is all in my head when I know it is not! I have to see a councillor even has to come to my home:C how dare doctors never pass on this info.before the rhinoplasty!!! I am devastated is there any answer to this to be fixed without paying more money also my eyes have are droopy and the more my nose is healing {btw which I am not happy with and have to have revision next year} the further apart my eyes look! I couldn't put my finger on it either but now I know and its slowly cracking me :C wish I never had this done!

lea75marie 26 Jun 2011

Also I forgot to add I have lost the fat in my top lip and no longer can see my top teeth!

Robyn7074 19 Apr 2011

I certainly don't think it's in your head. I believe our faces change alot after these surgieries due to cut nerves and veins etc. Just like any surgery, the area round it will look different for a while. I looked horrible for the first 7 months of my surgery and my face is looking a little better with continued face exercise. I believe the face exercise helps get the circulation back and impoves the memory of the muscles. (Muscles do have memory) I think it is so important to realize it can take a long time for our faces to heal, and doctors don't emphasize that enough when we complain about these changes. They seem to answer that it is all in our heads.

Summertime_1 31 May 2011

Hi Robyn, can you please share with us what facial exercises you have been doing and how soon after your surgery did you start these? Thank you :-)

Robyn7074 31 May 2011

Summertime- For me, the biggest problem I am seeing is a change in the fat, or support, under my eyes. I believe this may have to do with the loss of cartiledge or tissue from the middle nose area. So I am doing under eye exercises and cheek exercises. The cheek exercise is to try and push that under eye area back up again. I am also doing nose exercise! My nose was left too thin so I am attempting to "bulk it up" I am seeing results. The eye bags are not nearly as prominent. I use "Face exercise with Carolyn" You can find all three of these exercises for free on her sites. Here are some.
I started these about 3 months out when i noticed my eye circles were so much worse.

tiamaria 20 Apr 2011

I really hope your right, as silly as it sounds it's ruining my life. My husband says it's in my head but I know it's not.

What kind of facial excercise will help? Has your face gone back to normal now?

Robyn7074 20 Apr 2011

It seems to be improving so much. I am about 10 months post op. and I had the same problem you did. My top lip seemed to have lines in it because it was as if someone popped the center of my face. Like all support was gone! It was ruining my life too just as if seems to be for so many on here so you aren’t alone. While the face exercises are improving my face so much, I don’t know if it will heal completely, time will tell. Cheek bone and under eye exercise seems to be the best as it builds back up the support that seems to be missing now. Also, nose exercises which means flaring your nostrils. Believe me, these really do make a huge improvement, let me know if they help! They have changed my life. I was a depressed mess before.

Robyn7074 31 May 2011

Summertime- For me, the biggest problem I am seeing is a change in the fat, or support, under my eyes. I believe this may have to do with the loss of cartiledge or tissue from the middle nose area. So I am doing under eye exercises and cheek exercises. The cheek exercise is to try and push that under eye area back up again. I am also doing nose exercise! My nose was left too thin so I am attempting to "bulk it up" I am seeing results. The eye bags are not nearly as prominent. I use "Face exercise with Carolyn"

77238t 8 Feb 2012

Wow!!! I thought I was crazy!! But, this is happening to me I noticed it two weeks after a revision rhinoplasty (which came out really bad). Could you please pm me the facial exercises. I am devasted by this surgery. Not only did my nose go bad so did my face. I look atleast ten years older!! I hope everyone else is doing better! I am so sorry for everyone's heartache. Thank you

m130 14 Feb 2012

I forget where this came up before - either MissJ's or MMH, but there may be a link between post-op inflammation and fat loss.

Also I believe the laser board has people who have suffered facial fat loss - someone posted this article: http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/143/3/363.pdf

So I would think it is important to be careful about icing post-op in case there is a link - ask your doctor for icing times, and of course do not ice the nose directly... the times I have been told are ~ 15 min on / 45 off or thereabouts.

I have also heard that to get the fat back, some people have tried fat grafting to the face, but this has its own risks. Good luck to everyone who had this complication.