I Had a One Cigarette a Week Post Op from Open Rhinoplasty, and Now my Nose is Numb?

I went out with a friend

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by JenniferEvans

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Numbness following rhinoplasty

In general, you will want to avoid smoking at least 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery. Nicotine itself is a vasoconstrictor. When vasoconstriction takes place, surface area inside the blood vessels decreases. This results in poor blood flow and a rise in blood pressure. In effect, healing is greatly compromised. You are going to be numb following the rhinoplasty anyway, especially at one week following your surgery. This numbness is not the result of one cigarette. I would highly... more

Numbing after Rhinoplasty

It is normal to have numbness in your nose and upper lip during recovery from a rhinoplasty. While this is not directly associated with having smoked one week post-op, it is a good idea to refrain from smoking a minimum of 4 weeks. Smoking reduces your body's circulation and vascularity; this results in delayed healing. "Dr.D"

Nasal numbness after rhinoplasty

It is common for the nose to be numb after rhinoplasty. This will improve over time. The smoking did not cause this; even though you should not smoke to improve healing. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

3 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Numbness after rhinoplasty

You did not give a lot of information but it is quite common to have numbness after a rhinoplasty. This usually gets better with time.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Numbness of my nose after rhinoplasty

It is quite normal to have numbness of you nasal tip for a while after a rhinoplasty. Much of the sensation should return over time as the tip softens and the nerves start to function. This is part of the normal and expected recovery and is especially true with an open approach. While smoking can delay and impede your healing, it is not the cause of your numbness. It can cause problems with the skin, so it is best to avaoid it for a while. Relax and enjoy your new look. Jeff... more

Numbness after rhinoplasty

Some numbness of the tip of your nose and upper lip is normal after rhinoplasty, especially open rhinoplasty. It's unlikely the numbness relates to your smoking. Smoking will, however, compromise the vascularity (blood supply) of the tip of your nose, so I highly recommend refraining until after you are healed. Protect your investment.