How Harmful is Cocaine to my New Nose After Rhinoplasty?

Since cocaine is a vasoconstrictor it can severely damage your nose, especially after rhinoplasty.  The lining of the nose is quite fragile and inhaled substances such as cocaine can permanently damage the nose including creating a septal perforation and collapse your nose.  In my practice, we recommend patients are off cocaine for a period of 1 year prior to proceeding. 

Cocaine use causes vasoconstriction of the nasal blood vessels, hence compromising healing.  The damage may not be evident at the beginning however will cause a devastating result after months.Its use after rhinoplasty MUST be avoided.
Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

It’s important to understand that cocaine can cause intense vasoconstriction of the nasal mucosa.  For this reason chronic cocaine use is one of the leading causes of nasal septal perforations. 
            In the acute post-operative period when the nose has had significant trauma from the surgical dissection, cocaine use can have devastating consequences.  The combination of impaired circulation from surgery and the vasoconstriction from the use of cocaine can result in tissue necrosis.  This can significantly damage the nasal architecture and result in a persistent nasal deformity.

            For this reason, cocaine use should be avoided in the post-operative period.  If you’re unable to stop the use of cocaine on your own you should get professional help.  It’s important to realize that continued use following surgery can result in nasal disfigurement.

Cocaine use is probably the worst thing you could do to your nose after surgery. Even after your nose is healed, cocaine can cut off the blood supply inside your nose leading to septal perforation and external collapse of the nose (saddle nose deformity).

You're right- it was a terrible idea to do cocaine after a rhinoplasty. Yes, doing cocaine can affect the result of your nose. Cocaine causes vasoconstriction, which means you are decreasing the blood flow to your nose. That is the last thing you need when you are trying to heal from a rhinoplasty. You increased your risk for problems such as a septal perforation, which can require a second surgery to repair. Also, long term use of cocaine can lead to total collapse of your nose, which is not a good look. When would it be okay to use? Never. Aside from ruining your new nose, it can kill you. I strongly urge you to get help now. It is an addictive substance that can be hard to stop using once you start, so seek help now. It is not something to take lightly.

Doing cocaine right now would be very bad. it can affect the health of the loining of the nose and chew away the septum, leaving you with a gaping hole on the inside of your nose. No kidding! Anything more needed to be said?

one time use not likely to cause problems

it is frequently used during the surgery

cocaine does decrease blood flow

can cause loss of the lining (mucosa)

can results in holes (fistula)

can cause collapse of the structure of the nose (caving in)

be careful

Cocaine use before or after Rhinoplasty can have serious effects on the blood supply and structural integrity of your nose. In fact there is probably nothing worse you could do.  I suggest that you discuss your situation with your Surgeon immediately and don't be surprised if your results are less than expected.

If you have to ask this question, then you already know the answer. Why would you spend all that money and go through an operation and then place it at risk it by doing cocaine...even if was just a time or two? This speaks more to the issue of the habit than it does anything about the rhinoplasty. If you can't quit these impulses immediately, seek help.

Cocaine, whether or not you just underwent a rhinoplasty, is dangerous, addictive and can be lethal. As other respondents have already indicated as regards your nose, it causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels which means that they become markedly narrowed in size, resulting in less blood flow to the tissues which translates into less oxygen and nutrients - not a good thing. This can ultimately result in perforations in your septum and nasal collapse - not a pretty sight and an extremely difficult problem to reconstruct.

If you can't stop your consumption of cocaine, strongly consider addressing your addiction.