I Can Feel Something in my Nose After Rhinoplasty?

asked 9 months ago by Jocelyn K in Toronto, ON
Latest answer by Charles S. Lee, MD
Question viewed 419 times
Tags: silicone implant, cartilage, extrusion, revision

i got asian rhinoplasty done in China one year ago. i BELIEVE the doctor used silicone for the bridge and my nasal cartilage for the tip. When I touch the tip of my nose, I can feel something pointy there. It's definitely what the doctor used for the tip of my nose, whether it's silicone or my cartilage. Is it normal that I'm able to feel the material he put there? Does this mean the cartilage or silicone is going to extrude? What are the chances that I won't have to get a revision done?

5 answers to I Can Feel Something in my Nose After Rhinoplasty?

Tip concerns after Asian rhinoplasty

First of all, don't panic. If you feel something pointy, it is possible you are simply able to palpate the implant or graft. Especially if you do not have thick skin, it is conceivable that you can feel the edges and this is not necessarily an indication of imminent implant extrusion. However, if the skin is red or sore or if you have purulent, malodorous discharge in the nose, there could be a problem. Your safest bet is to have your nose evaluated by a surgeon who has experience in... more

Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, MD, PhD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.restonfacialplastics.com

Graft or Implant Extrusion after Rhinoplasty

It is a well known possible complication that an L-shaped silicone implant can extrude through the nasal tip skin after rhinoplasty. If cartilage was placed to augment the tip, you may feel a sharp edge of that graft, but extrusion is very rare. In fact, after doing rhinoplasty surgery for over 30 years, next week I will for the first time remove a tip cartilage graft placed by another surgeon over 20 years ago because it is now starting to extrude through the skin. more

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Feeling the tip cartilage after Asian rhinoplasty

You'll almost always feel something in the tip after augmentation of that area. If it was an L implant or some other foreign material at the tip, you should monitor it periodically. If you can see it or the skin is thinning out, that would be concerning.

Charles S. Lee, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

I can feel something hard in my tip after Asian Rhinoplasty, now what?

I have performed Rhinoplasty for over 20 years and I suspect that you may have an L-shaped silicone graft in your nose from your previous Rhinoplasty. I see these nasal implants, on occassion, and remove the vertical section (of the L shape) as it is positioned between the tip cartilages in the middle of the nasal tip. This section, of the implant, is too hard for the thin tip skin and is known to become hard, discolored and erode through the skin. You... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Concerns about results and possible extrusion in an Asian rhinoplasty

If your skin is quite thin and/or the material is configured with sharp edges then clearly you be able to feel it. If it is the edge of the silicone implant that you are feeling, the chance of extrusion is not low whereas cartilage grafts are less likely to erode through the skin. You best bet would be to seek a consultation from a board certified plastic surgeon in your area who does have experience in evaluating and operating on Asian noses.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

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