Laser resurfacing before or after Rhinoplasty?

In my opinion, if the laser resurfacing will be aggressive, I will recommend first the rhinoplasty and wait for about 12 months and then do the laser resurfacing. A very aggressive laser resurfacing may create a thinner skin envelope on the nose and a surgery can have a little more risk for complications.

Dear kaygee16,
laser resurfacing can be used before or after rhinoplasty.
In case you use it before rhinoplasty it can help increase the blood vessels of the skin which can be helpful in wound healing. In case you use laser after rhinoplasty you should make sure that the wound is fully healed because if it is not laser can disrupt the healing process.  
But you should visit a board-certified plastic surgeon to get more details. 
Dr. Daniel Barrett

I would recommend my patients wait on laser resurfacing until after rhinoplasty for two reasons:First, some types of laser resurfacing cause some coagulation of the skin, which could theoretically compromise healing of the skin and soft tissue envelope during rhinoplasty recovery.Second, laser resurfacing may be used to further camouflage the columellar incision (which typically heals quite nicely).  After rhinoplasty, some degree of acne flare can be expected if your skin is prone to this, due to the glue and splint placed on the skin at the conclusion of the procedure.  Laser may help to even the pore size and texture after this resolves.Of course, consult with your facial plastic surgeon to provide you with actual medical advice, as this post is no substitute.Best Wishes

It's probably best to separate the two procedures by at least a few months, so as not to compromise the healing process for each procedure. It probably doesn't matter which procedure comes first, but just remember that it takes a full year for the swelling from a rhinoplasty to subside.

I believe that you should have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in both procedures to determine the best approach in your case. You also want to ensure that your skin is prepared for the laser procedure with proper skin care before the laser procedure for at least 6-8 weeks to control pigment and prevent scarring.

Dear kaygee16, I would suggest that a patient have the rhinoplasty prior to the laser skin resurfacing. Generally speaking it can be complimentary post rhinoplasty if the patient has thick skin. See examples of rhinoplasty in the link below and laser skin resurfacing in the video above. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. I typically recommend that patients heal completely from one procedure before choosing the other. Of course, you will need an in-person consultation to evaluate you for this procedure. Preoperative visualization and surgical simulation with the Crisalix system may help with your decision. Any treatment plan should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you and your surgeon.    Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation in person with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon.  Good luck! 


Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS 

Harvard educated plastic surgeon

It does not make a lot of difference whether the rhinoplasty or laser resurfacing is done first. Having said that I would like to see your nasal skin. If it is thick or not healthy I would do the nasal surgery first and then use the laser to refine the rhinoplasty result.

I think either approach is satisfactory as long as you allow for adequate healing time between the procedures (several months).  I would lean toward rhinoplasty first followed by laser resurfacing if practical for your schedule.  You'll do well either way...
Jon A. Perlman,  MD FACS
Beverly Hills, Ca.