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.