It's Been One Month Now Since my Nose Job Has Been Done, and I Can't Yet Smell Not Taste. Is This Normal?

From time to time patients complain about a decreased sense of smell after rhinoplasty. I've never seen this not resolve although rarely it may take a few months.

Dear S.

One month is a short time to make judgment on the post operative (after surgery) appearance of the nose.

The nose can take up to two years to show the final result.

Also as the swelling inside the nose is decreased, you would be able to smell better.

Hope this was helpful.

Regards,

Dr Sajjadian

It is quite possible to have a loss of the perception to smell due to nasal obstruction or swelling. It is rare but should get better with time.  If not check with your doctor.

Hello,

Thank you for the question.  Loss of smell after rhinoplasty is rare for the long term.  Initially this occurs because of nasal obstruction due to swelling but should improve.  You may want to have your plastic surgeon and your primary care doctor evaluate you to make sure that the source of the loss of smell and taste is properly identified.

All the best,

Dr. Remus Repta

Dear s78,

Thank you for your question. This is very rare but should resolve with many months.

Best wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

Having a decresed sense of smell may occurr after rhinoplasty, but usually resolves over a few months. There is a risk of permanent loss of smell, but I have never seen it. Let your surgeon know of your concerns, but you will most likely recover in time.

It is relatively common for sense of smell to be somewhat disturbed in the first few weeks following a rhinoplasty; it is only permanent in an extremely small percentage. The time for it to completely return to normal in some patients can be several months. If you are only one month down the track, you will still have swelling of the internal lining of the nose (mucosa), which is the most likely cause. In most people, it should be starting to gradually improve at 6 weeks so if has not changed at all by this stage, it warrants further investigation. Smell and taste are closely related;  you have not lost your ability to taste; (the basic five taste sensations salty, sweet, bitter, sour and umami which is perceived via taste buds on the tongue), however, without normal olfaction, food tastes bland, particularly more complex flavours which require smell for their enjoyment.