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How Likely Will Potentially Deadly Risks from Rhinoplasty Occur?

asked 3 years ago by Tigerfan7777 in Baton Rouge, LA
Latest answer by Anil R. Shah, MD
Question viewed 4,250 times
Tags: risk

I'll be having a rhinoplasty soon with a doctor in New Orleans, and I really feel confident in his expertise. However, when I went to sign the papers, a few things scared me on the risk list. So now, I'm hoping to get some idea as to how often these worst case scenario risks occur, given that I am in competent hands. What frightens me is that the list mentioned things like toxic shock syndrome and also meningitis. Obviously this really scares the heck out of me. How likely are these potentially deadly risks to occur? Thanks?

12 answers to How Likely Will Potentially Deadly Risks from Rhinoplasty Occur?

An educated consumer

Tigerfar, Consider yourself an educated consumer. EVERY procedure that we perform, no matter how minor, has risks, even as tragic as death. Life is a balance of risks and benefits. Surely, every time you get behind the wheel of your car you take some risk of losing your life. Yet, you would never consider relinquishing the benefits of transportation. The surgical complications that you mention are very rare, just as that of losing your life behind the wheel of your car is rare. ... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Risks of Rhinoplasty

The most common risks of rhinoplasty include residual defect, incomplete correction, asymmetry and the need for additional operations. More remote risks include wound healing problems, bleeding Even more remote risks include infection (sepsis, meningitis) The risk of TSS comes from the packing. Extremely unusual. Meningitis would require a tear in the layer protecting your brain and an undrained infection. Both very unusual. It sounds like your surgeon is being complete which is... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Hi Tiger Fan, Are those the LSU or Auburn Tigers? I think I know Coach Miles. The risks that you are concerned with are miniscule. In today's litigious and greedy society it is necessary to cover all of the possible untoward events that may occur when undergoing any type of procedure. There have been incidents where a surgery is cancelled for one reason or another, the patient is at home at the time of the scheduled surgery, and suffers a coincidental fatal heart attack. Fortunately the... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

If these risks were common, we would be out of business

In the current legal climate, we are obliged to advise you of all the potential risks, large and small. The risks you name are infinitessimally small. The risk of getting hit by a car crossing the street is greater then the risks you describe- so relax and think good thoughts!

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Education and prevention as well as management of risks are the keys to successful outcomes

Every surgical procedure, no matter how minor, involves a certain degree of risk. This is why you must make an educated decision. You must decide if the risks are worth the benefits. Surgery itself is an extremely controlled environment. You will be monitored during the procedure. Your blood pressure, pulse, degree of oxygen in your blood are all routinely and continuously checked. It is important that your anesthesiologist has experience in this type of nasal surgery. After... more

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty deadly? Highly unlikely!

After a search for related cases of toxic shock or mennigitis after rhinoplasty I was not able to find any and I know of no rhinoplasty related death in my location. The truth is life threatening infection can be reported after any surgical procedure, however in the case of rhinoplasty I'll bet we experience much more death from lightening strikes. As a note of caution, do consider your overall health before undergoing any procedure. Also consider the facility in which you will be cared for... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

There is no increased risk of death with rhinoplasty.

Tigerfar, There is no increased risk of death with rhinoplasty. It sounds like the consent you signed is just trying to cover them for every possiblity - no matter how small. Kind of like when you see a commercial for a new medication and they list all these crazy "possible side effect." Just make sure you are in competent hands. Good luck with your surgery.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Life threatening risks are RARE in rhinoplasty

It is required of all good medical practitioners to obtain your full informed consent before doing an elective surgery like rhinoplasty on a patient. Some of the risks that need to be listed are quite frightening. Fortunately, these are exceptionally rare. I have been in University and private practice for over 20 years and have never personally had any such issues as toxic shock syndrome or meningitis nor do I know any plastic surgeons personally who have ever related such a story... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

These things are extremely rare

In more than 30 years we have never had any serious complication! You probably have more risk driving to his office than you do with the surgery.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Deadly Risks and Rhinoplasty

The consent process involves detailed consents discussing many risks of the procedure, some of which have never occurred. Overall, rhinoplasty is considered a safe operation with the main challenges being in creating a natural and harmonious functional nose. Death is extremely uncommon.

Anil R. Shah, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Very unlikely

Anesthesia risks today are extremely minimal if the patient has a board-certified physician anesthesiologist in attendance while under anesthesia. Other risks such as toxic shock syndrome no longer exist as packing should no longer be placed inside the nose. Meningitis is an extremely rare complication after rhinoplasty.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Rhinoplasty risks

Risks of surgery are listed and discussed with all patients. Some are more common than others, but yet they all should be discussed especially the more common ones. Even those are not very common. Meningitis is extremely rare and toxic shock is slightly more common. More likely if anything bad is going to happen it would be one of the more common things like asymmetry, irregularities, possibly even bleeding, to name a few.