Nose goes blue and numb after third rhinoplasty 1 year ago, is something wrong?

Question

I had a third revision rhinoplasty a year ago. The first was to correct a break and to reduce the tip but the result got very warped over time. The second corrected that, but also warped, and this one strengthened the bridge after the scar tissue was removed and was reshaped using a transdermal skin graft from my groin. A year on it has healed and looks fantastic, but I get dark blue blotches near the tip late at night and if I get cold and feels numb, I'm worried this is a sign of something wrong?

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

To begin with, dermal skin grafts inside a nose are not advisable, not even in revision rhinoplasties; i do perform regular revisions and never ever in my career have used dermal skin grafts for my own cases.I have 2 theories about your blotches, not mutually exclusive:-there is necrosis of the skin ongoing, yes late resorbtion and necrosis is a well known event in revision rhinoplasties with grafting when the tissues are devascularized or poorly debrided by the surgeon; your skin dermal grafts might be in the process of resorbtion and replacement by calcified fibrosis (you'd feel firm touch and hardening)-hair folicles growing, yes, in spite of the poor blood supply there exists a chance the hair follicles from the groin were not cauterized by your surgeon and they "took" at the nose, and now begin to grow, thus creating the blotchesI strongly recommend you seek other opinions about your case, with images please
Please do post or send privately a full set of good quality, well lit and focused standard photos: frontal, both lateral views and both oblique views, also from underneath the nostrils.
Feel free to request any additional information from me.

David W. Kim, MD · Answer

These signs indicate diminished blood supply to the skin over those areas.  It should gradually improve over time.  You should not undergo any invasive treatments to that area until the skin has recovered (revision surgery, fillers, etc).

Victor Chung, MD · Answer

Marizopan14
I'm glad to hear that you have gotten through 3 surgeries with a happy result. The blue blotches may indicate a challenged blood supply to your nose. I would warn against future surgeries without mentioning this to the surgeon. I would be sure to keep your nose protected from the sun and cold. A sunburn or frostbite may be more serious in your case. Safety comes first.

Nose goes blue and numb after third rhinoplasty 1 year ago, is something wrong?

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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Nose goes blue and numb after third rhinoplasty 1 year ago, is something wrong?

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.