Cocaine used for nose job 30 years ago. Was this normal/legal at that time?

Topical cocaine has many advantages to other decongestants and anesthetics. Specifically, when cocaine is placed in the nose before rhinoplasty surgery, it tends to significantly decrease the amount of bleeding that we encounter during the surgery. Topical cocaine has a nearly 100 year history of safety and efficacy with cosmetic septorhinoplasty surgeries. The largest manufacturer of cocaine solution in the United States of America is Mallinckrodt. And there is currently a shortage of this medication in the US. Thanks for this question! Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

Thank you for posting your question here
medical grade cocaine is one of the agents used during a rhinoplasty/septoplasty procedure. It was traditionally used and still in use today as it works as an anesthetic and offers vasoconstriction thus decreases blood loss.
I hope this helps, best of luck!

Cocaine acts as a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor to prevent bleeding. Many surgeons still use it for this reason although afrin nasal spray is often used instead. Using cocaine is perfectly legal in rhinoplasty