When can I do microneedling again after primary rhinoplasty?

After a primary rhinoplasty, the skin and underlying tissues need adequate time to heal before resuming microneedling. The immediate post-operative period involves swelling, tenderness, and increased fragility of the skin, making it more prone to irritation or delayed healing if treated too early.

General guidelines:

Typical waiting period: Most surgeons recommend waiting about 6–8 weeks after surgery before resuming microneedling, provided the incisions are fully healed and there are no complications.

Why wait: This time frame allows for sufficient wound healing, reduction in swelling, and stabilization of the nasal skin.

Individual variation: Healing time can vary depending on skin thickness, surgical technique, and your body’s healing response, so clearance from your operating surgeon is essential.

Summary:
While some mild skin treatments may be safe earlier, microneedling should generally be postponed until the nasal skin is fully healed—often around the 6–8 week mark—to avoid disrupting healing and to maximize results.

Our treatments use combination therapy to improve the epidermis and dermis for most deep scars. The options available for acne scars depend on the character of your scars, in terms of topography and contour. We see atrophic and hypertrophic acne scars, as well as scars that have hypo and hyperpigmentation. We begin each scar evaluation with an assessment of scar quality and subtype. Our main concern is rebuilding collagen and that is why we use a HIDEF protocol that includes combination therapy. Morpheus 8, scar subcision, fibrous release, fractional laser, CO2 laser, Thulium laser, PDL Vbeam laser, and fractional resurfacing can be used in addition to TCA Cross and chemical peels to further improve skin. Patients should start Melarase AM and Melarase PM for active hyperpigmentation. Always begin with a consultation to decide whether early subcision should be started.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin in Winnetka and Chicago. This is a great question. After primary rhinoplasty, it's essential to wait until you have fully healed before undergoing microneedling or any similar procedure. Generally, it's recommended to wait at least 6 to 12 months post-surgery before considering microneedling. This timeline allows for the majority of the healing to occur, and it ensures that the nasal tissues have stabilized and any residual swelling has subsided. I hope this helps and best of luck!