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How To Treat Hole In Nose From Cocaine Use?

asked 4 months ago by Mish1990 in Grove City, OH
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 859 times
Tags: drug use, hole, options, worried

Hi I'm 21 and I fell into a binge with coke for about 8 months .well just this nov I had scabs and yes I picked them or blew them out, well here comes dec and here comes the scab! I blew the hole thing out!! And I look up there with a flash light and there is a hole , I freaked out I'm very depressed over it and always worring about it, it's not too big but one side is bigger then the other! Please help! I have stopped using also someone please tell me how I can help this close! Thanks!

8 answers to How To Treat Hole In Nose From Cocaine Use?

+1

Treatment for hole in nose due to cocaine

A septal perforation in the nose is certainly a possibility with cocaine abuse. This must be diagnosed by a physician, preferably an ear, nose, and throat physician. Cocaine usage must stop prior to undergoing any reparative procedures. The simplest procedure involves a silastic septal button, which is inserted and sewn into the perforation under either local or general anesthesia and takes approximately 15 minutes to place. This will cover the hole and keep airflow... more
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

+1

Nasal Septal Perforation after Cocaine Use

This is a very common problem. Fortunately problems from it are not as common. This can be repaired, but I would not do so until complete healing has occurred (about 6 months) and you have been off cocaine an equal amount of time (again, to allow the healing to occur). By this time you can also tell if the hole is causing any symptoms such as breathing problems, bleeding crusting, etc. If not, you will need to do nothing.
Robert T. Buchanan, MD

Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+1

Septal Perforation Repair After Cocaine Use

Sorry to hear about your situation. As noted below, cocaine can have significant adverse effects on the internal lining and structure of the nose. The end result is a hole, or perforation, in septum that can contribute to chronic scabbing and crusting. The hole can also disrupt the normal laminar airflow inside of the nose, thus creating more turbulence when you breathe in through the nose. Some patients with septal perforations also note intermittent whistling when they breathe in through... more
John M. Hilinski, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drhilinski.com

+1

Septal perforations

Cocaine is a pwerful vasoconstrictor and repeated use can cause septal perforations. Depending upon the size, it may or may not be able to be fixed.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Options for treating septal perforation (hole in nose)

What you are describing is a septal perforation. Cocaine causes blood vessels to shrink up. When this happens, you reduce blood flow, and tissue can die (i.e. the cartilage of your septum). This causes the hole you describe. The symptoms include crusting and bleeding, but can lead to long term sequelae like loss of nasal support. The first order of business is to make sure that the patient is no longer using cocaine. I personally use a 6 month litmus test.... more
Raghu Athre, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.athresurgical.com

+1

Septal Perforation (hole in nose)

A hole in the cartilage that separates the two sides of the nose is a common complication of cocaine use, although there are multiple other causes as well. One of the most common causes is after surgery to straighten out the septum of the nose (septoplasty). The first step in repair of the perforation is to stop the progression of the process by getting treatment for the medical condition that caused the perforation or stopping use of cocaine. Once this has occurred and... more
P. Daniel Ward, MD

Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Hole in nose after cocaine use.

First of all you must stay off cocaine. Permanently. It is a potent vasoconstrictor that caused your nasal mucous membranes to die. Your body tried to heal from the alive edges, but more cocaine use killed more tissue (both sides) until the septal cartilage became exposed, dried out, and bacteria dissolved part of it (the part no longer protected by living mucous membranes). Hole results. Reconstructive nasal surgery can be done, but this is not guaranteed and can fail as... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Options in Treating Cocaine Nose Holes

Cocaine has 2 medical uses; it alleviates pain and is a very potent shrinker of blood vessels. As a result it was commonly used in nose surgery to reduce surgical bleeding and pain. Unfortunately it is EXTREMELY addictive and among its victims were many famous people including doctors (Sigmund Freud (father of Pasychoanalysis), William Halstead (father of modern American Surgery) and Sherlock Holmes). Prolonged application of cocaine causes spasm and stoppage of blood flow in the septum... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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