Why is nose suddenly swollen 3 years after rhinoplasty? Tape does help (Photo)

Question

Hello, I got rhinoplasty 3 years ago, I HAD the nose I wanted for a year. It did always fluctuate. Some days it looked SO SMALL! My nose is thick & oily. recently it has become extremely swollen during flares (salty food & heat). It just rests permanently at a swollen state. Taping fixes it temporarily. Why is this happening? How can I achieve my old results & latch the skin tighter on the revised cartilage? Are injections only temporary? what about accutane?I want to avoid revision

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

You answered your own question -- it's due to your skin swelling. Injections will not help because they will not change your skin texture; only skin modifications can help, such as accutane like you suggested.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

My first piece of advice would be to give you a surgeon a call. I would discuss your situation with him to get guidance, and I would specifically ask whether or not permanent suture material was used in your  nose, or if there might be a foreign body implant in your nose. If you had an implant, in all likelihood, you would know. Some people can have inflammatory reactions to permanent suture material in the nose. In our experience, this may present as a very small localized area of inflammation, not generalized nasal swelling.

If there are no foreign bodies in your nose, rhinoplasty onto itself should not lead to permanent swelling. I would not recommend for the surgery to address this concern. Your suggestion of Accutane is something to be considered, and would require a dermatologic consultation. I can see nasal redness after you consume salt, and this can be a form of rosacea. If you have a skin condition like rosacea, this can be well managed with topical care and a good dermatologist. I wish you all the best moving forward. Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. At three years postop, I would definitely recommend Low dose Accutane and frequent steroid injections by your surgeon. I never recommend taping for my own patients. I recommend that you maintain close follow up with your surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Todd Christopher Hobgood, MD · Answer

It's not uncommon for patients to experience fluctuations in nasal appearance, even years after rhinoplasty surgery. However, persistent swelling 3 years post-op is unusual and warrants further investigation. Possible factors may include scar tissue formation, underlying structural concerns, or lymphatic drainage issues. Remedies such as taping and steroid injections usually only provide a temporary fix. Before considering a revision rhinoplasty, I suggest consulting with your original surgeon or seeking a second opinion from a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. They can evaluate your nose in person, possibly using advanced imaging technology, to determine the cause of swelling and recommend next steps.

Good luck and be well,
Dr. Todd Hobgood

Good luck and be well,
Dr. Todd Hobgood

Why is nose suddenly swollen 3 years after rhinoplasty? Tape does help (Photo)

Answers (4)

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