Retin-A and Botox Safe After Rhinoplasty?

Question

I had Rhinoplasty at the end of August this year and would like to start using Retin-A cream on my face, and also have Botox for upper face and crows feet. Are there any risks with these treatments so soon (two months) after rhinoplasty? Can the Vitamin A in Retin-A affect the nose negatively?

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

You are far enough out from Rhinoplasty that you can use both of these products.  Remember the Retin-A can always make the skin a little irritated so you may want to start out with a smaller percentage dose. You will have no problems with Botox at this point. Good luck.
Dr. Miller

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Some noses develop a significant proliferation of tiny blood vessels called capillaries in the skin; usually on the top of the nose. Retin A may make you more susceptible for facial redness from the direct effect of its use, however, many patients that do develop the blood vessels after the rhinoplasty probably did not use the Retin A. I am not aware of a potential problem with the use of Botox for Crow’s feet after a rhinoplasty, but check with your plastic surgeon.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

The proliferative phase of wound healing is complete at 6 weeks postoperatively. In my opinion use of Botox or Retin-A are reasonable to commence at 8 weeks postoperatively.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

Botox can be resumed one week after rhinoplasty.
Retin-A can be started one month after rhinoplasty. Any earlier can lead to increased irritation of the nasal skin or the lower eyelid and cheek areas.
Regards

Amir M. Karam, MD · Answer

There are no contraindications for using Retin-A or Botox after a rhinoplasty.  My only recommendation is that you wait until you've healed from the surgery and the swelling has resolved.  This may take 2-3 weeks.
Best of luck, 
Dr. Karam

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Hi Ella
If you have been off the Retin A for a while, remember to ease back into it. Generally the skin will have a certain tolerance for the irritating effects of the Retin A. The goal after all is to look better and not to make the skin red, flaky and feeling like it is on fire. I usually recommend restarting a frequency that it much less often than what you had been successfully using the product at. For example if you had been using Retin A every other night, start using it every 4 or 5th night for 6 weeks, then increase by one day and allow the skin to adjust for another 6 weeks.  
This will gently return you to a frequency that the skin will tolerate with no significant skin irritation. If this does occur, decrease the frequency and work patient back to what does work for you. Don't assume that if you had been using the product ever day, that this will be what your skin will be happy with.
One of the documented effects of Retin A is to thicken the epithelium. This generally is beneficial for the face as well as the nose and can help bridge and hide small surface irregularities that can develop after rhinoplasty.

Houtan Chaboki, MD · Answer

I don't anticipate any issues two months after nasal surgery to begin using Botox or Retin-A. Both Retin-A and Botox are great after rhinoplasty, and may help improve your results.
I follow my rhinoplasty patients very closely. Every patient, surgery, and their healing ability is unique, but normally allow resuming such basic skin care about one month after surgery.
Ask your rhinoplasty surgeon first. Best of luck.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Both Retin-A and Botox are certainly acceptable treatments two months after rhinoplasty. There are no contraindications whatsoever, and no negative effects for either drugs in regards to a prior rhinoplasty.

Amir Moradi, MD · Answer

If you use Retin-A on the skin when there is edema you will experience more irritation and peeling.
Using Botox earlier than 4-6 weeks may not be as effective due to the edema around the muscles.between the eyebrows.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

At 2 months after a rhinoplasty, I see no reason not to restart Botox and Retin A . If the skin was irritated from tape, then I would hold off the Retin-A , but this should not be a problem at 2 months.

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