Thicker skin is a common result of mutiple rhinoplasty surgeries

Usha Rajagopal, MD answers: Why does the skin thicken after rhinoplasty surgery?

I have had 3 rhinoplastys due to a couple of errors, and now the middle part (the skin) of my nose has thickened. It doesn't look natural because my tip is thin and the above part of my nose is thick.

My last operation I had the skin thinned, but it didn't really help. Why has this happened? And what are my options? Is cortisone therapy an option? Thank you for reading this. Please help!


Usha Rajagopal, MD
14 months ago
By Usha Rajagopal, MD - San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Skin thickening happens because each time you repeat rhinoplasty surgery, scar tissue builds up after each rhinoplasty surgery.

Has it clearly been determined that it is excess skin and not too much or too little cartilage or bone? The appearance of “thicker skin” could be part of the cartilage or bone left.

Steroids can help with swelling. Steroid treatments should be done with caution soon after surgery. Keep in mind that a common side effect of steroid treatment is thinning out the skin too much.

Also consider taping the nose right after surgery and for 4-6 weeks following  the surgery. Though, taping is used more to control swelling than scar tissue growth.  

For other readers keep in mind that each time you go in for a rhinoplasty it becomes more and more difficult to perform the surgery and more and more unpredictable.

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