Still in constant pain halfway down nose & swelling & tingling on right side 3 years PO - what can I do? (Photos)

Question

3 years post and something isnt right,. I had rhinoplasty 3 years ago this March 2023. It was closed and with a good reputed surgeon. I had a "droopy" and "bulbous" tip and have always hated my large nose. I never had proper follow ups due to covid. I have been v patient after being reassured by my surgeon 1.5 years ago but i still have constant pain half way down my nose, there seems to still be swelling on R side and tingling. I dont know what to do and its worrying me now incase things get worse. Im 41.

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

We are not able to identify specific nerves that can be treated, so designing an operation to alleviate the feelings isn't possible. If you were to have a revision, it would be to address the appearance of the nose, For example, your nose still looks long to me, with the tip sitting low and projecting forward away from your face. If you were to have an operation to address those visible features, it would involve work under the skin in the area of the pain, and it's just possible that the nerve fibers that are making you uncomfortable would be interrupted during surgery and it might improve things. But do not have an operation if you feel you nose looks fine enough, because this is a situation where we just *hope* the surgery will help -- it's not that the surgeon would do anything specific to make the nerve problem better. So, for example, if you want more improvement in the nose separate from the pain issue, it's reasonable to have that operation and re-assess the discomfort. If the discomfort issue is 90%, though, then surgery is probably off the table; perhaps an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management might have an idea for you? Just a few thoughts there.
If you do decide to proceed with surgery, remember that rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. The changes that your nose needs require advanced techniques, and skill that most plastic surgeons don't possess with expertise. For most noses, it's much better to not have surgery than to have inexpertly-performed surgery. Read my essay on how to stay out of trouble while selecting a rhinoplasty surgeon. And for those who have had previous surgery, it also discusses how to tell whether your first surgeon should be performing your revision. And it also discusses how to take photos that are best for online evaluations.

Still in constant pain halfway down nose & swelling & tingling on right side 3 years PO - what can I do? (Photos)

Answers (1)

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