Can pain from Rhinoplasty be permanent?

Question

Naturally in the first few weeks pain is to be expected, but can the nose ache permanently in some cases if nerve damage was caused by cutting the septum or surrounding cartilage? I know bones sometimes never feel quite right after being fractured, I'm wondering if cartilage could be the same.

Demetrio J. Aguila III, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.As you mentioned, pain after any surgery is to be expected.  After rhinoplasty, it is not unusual to have pain for days, or even weeks if bony work was done.  While it is exceedingly rare for patients to have postoperative pain that is permanent, it is not impossible.  As a plastic surgeon and peripheral nerve surgeon, I have been referred patients who have had long-standing facial pain after trauma or surgery, and while I have not run across someone who has had long-standing pain from rhinoplasty, I have seen patients who have had neuromas (abnormal nerve growth) after nasal fractures, so it would stand to reason that it's possible, though unlikely, that a rhinoplasty could cause long-standing pain.I hope you find this answer useful.  Best wishes.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Sophitia, Slight pain after rhinoplasty is common for the first few days and sensitivity to the nose may persist for a week or so however permanent pain after rhinoplasty is not a complaint I have ever had in my practice. I have been in practice for over 30 years and I perform hundreds of rhinoplasty procedures every year. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Pain, treated with the appropriate medication, is normal for 1-2 days after surgery, occasionally for 3-4 days, but in 35 years I've never seen or heard of a patient that had permanent pain after a rhinoplasty.

Can pain from Rhinoplasty be permanent?

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Can pain from Rhinoplasty be permanent?

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