Fat Loss or Lipoatrophy After Rhinoplasty? Doctor Answers, Tips
Rhinoplasty: Q&A
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Fat Loss or Lipoatrophy After Rhinoplasty?

I have heard that some people experience loss of fat around the eyes and/or cheeks following Rhinoplasty. Is this true, and can it be avoided?

14 Doctor Answers | Asked by sandiego2 in san diego
+2

Rhinoplasty does not cause fat loss

As stated by others the likely cause is that when your face was swollen from the surgery you liked it more and after the swelling went down you noticed the hollowness.  Also, weight loss may result in loss of facial fat.
+1

Rhinoplasty has no effect on fat around eyes

Among the thousands of rhinoplasty surgeries performed, we have never seen any loss of fat around the eyelids. Rhinoplasty does not alter or effect fat around the eyes.
+1

Fat loss around eyes after Rhinoplasty

Strange rumor! I have NEVER seen fat loss around the eyes after rhinoplasty. Perhaps the initial swelling and bruising around the eye may mimic fat loss? see video

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+1

Fat loss after rhinoplasty

Hello, There will be no loss of fat around the eyes or cheeks following rhinoplasty. Hope this helps answer your question. Thank you and best of luck. Dr. Nassif
+1

Rhinoplasty has no effect on eyelid fat

The shape of eyes can appear changed from change in the shape of the nose. However, a rhinoplasty does not have any effect on the fat in the cheeks and eyelids. Regards
+1

There is no loss of fat around the eyes or face after rhinoplasty.

There is no loss of fat around the eyes or face after rhinoplasty. The eyes appear larger and softer after the bump is removed and people think they have lost fat.
+1

Rhinoplasty and eye swelling

I would love to know where rumors like this get started. Occasionally, one may experience greater than average post-operative brusing and swelling. Once this resolves it may appear that the eyes appear more hollow but this is not a known complication of rhinoplasty
+1

Loss of fat around the eyes is not a commonly recognized risk from Rhinoplasty

Loss of fat around the eyes is not a commonly recognized risk from Rhinoplasty. As the other doctors have answered this is not common. It is a possiblity that some of the vessels around the nose could be affected with aggressive rhinoplasty that could affect the blood flow to the parts of the eyes that are closer to the nose. This could be the only possible way of losing fat around the eyes. The other phenomenon that the doctors have mentioned could account for this sensation that you... more
+1

Rhinoplasty effects on nearby eye area and cheeks

Rhinoplasty itself has no long term effects on the eyelid or orbital area. It also does not affect the amount of fat in your cheeks. That being said, I have seen patients who when they bruise around their eyes from a rhinoplasty, can sometimes make the dark circles appear worse at least temporarily from the effect on the veins in those areas. I hope this information helps.
+1

Fat loss after rhinoplasty does not occur.

At the risk of being redundant, I'll chime in as well to say that reshaping the nose has nothing to do with fat loss or hollowing around the eyes. It simply does not happen and cannot happen. Hope this gives you some peace of mind, --DCP
+1

The face and eyes do not lose fat after rhinoplasty

There is an old wives tale that the eyes can lose fat and look hollow after rhinoplasty. This is untrue. There should be no correlation between changing a nose and facial fat. The most likely reason people report this finding is that they used to focus on their nose in the mirror and when looking at photos of themselves. Now that their nose fits the face, the notice other features such as their eyes.
+1

Fat loss and rhinoplasty

I personally have never seen this in any rhinoplasty patients. Fat loss usually occurs secondary to aging, and a rhinoplasty surgery should not produce this. The fat can be replaced with your own fat, a filler such as Juvederm or Restylane, or in some cases a mid-facelift may be required. Best wishes.
+1

Lipoatrophy after rhinoplasty?

Loss of fat around the eyes is not an associated risk of a rhinoplasty. There is no anatomical link to correlate these two. The only possible mechanism where a patint might think this has happened (but it hasn't) is that the lower lids will have some swelling after a rhinoplasty and when it goen away (back to your normal) it will look hollower.
+1

Loss of fat around the eyes and/or cheeks following Rhinoplasty

Loss of fat around the eyes and/or cheeks is NOT a recognized Rhinoplasty complication. It is much more commonly seen with facial aging and tissue descent and can be reversed with tissue fillers and a vertical mid-face lift. Dr. P. Aldea
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Comments (1)

1S9A9R8A 23 Sep 2012
I have unfortunately needed to have rhinoplasty and 3 follow up revision surgeries. Complete reconstruction was needed in which cartliage from my ear and temporalis fascia from my skull was grafted onto my nose. All 4 surgeries have been open surgery

I have definitely noticed a depletion of fat from my tear troughs and through my mid cheek. I dont think that it is simply age as I am only 24. I was also starting to wonder if repeated open rhinoplasty has any negative affect on the fat of the cheeks.
Thanks

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