Can steroid injections be used nearly 5 years after rhinoplasty to help nose tip definition and scaring?

Question

I had a closed rhinoplasty in January 2013 I have scaring on my tip which is causing a bulbous effect that I didn't have before surgery I had steroid injections that September and it helped significantly but unfortunately it came back. I was wondering would it be worth/possible having the injections done again?

Jacqueline T. Cheng, MD · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question.  I am sorry to hear that you are having scarring and swelling after your rhinoplasty surgery.  Five years after your surgery, the final results of your surgery should now be visible.  If the results you’re seeing still do not satisfy you, you may want to talk to your performing surgeon or another board-certified facial plastic surgeon in your area about a revision surgery.  Steroid injections can help reduce scarring and manage your swelling immediately post-surgery.  At this stage, however, the potential side effects of steroids &mdash; thinning of the skin and impairment of blood vessels &mdash; may only further complicate your result and increase your dissatisfaction.  I hope this information helps you.  I wish you good health.
- Jacqueline T. Cheng, MD

Jag Chana, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Steroid injections 5 years after a rhinoplasty are unlikely to provide benefit and may cause deleterious effects especially if you have had steroid injections in the past. The side effects are excessive thinning of the skin, atrophy and thread veins which are then permanent.   It would be best to seek advice from a rhinoplasty surgeon. It may be that a revisional procedure would be of benefit .

James Murphy, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

At this stage, I would suggest that the potential side-effects of a steroid injection would outweigh the benefits and I would probably advise against it. You may be best to see a surgeon who is experienced in rhinoplasty and get some advice about revision surgery rather than using steroids.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

At 5 years post op steroid injections would not help, but could hurt the result.   If revision is needed, your surgeon can go in and remove some of the permanent swollen tissue.

Can steroid injections be used nearly 5 years after rhinoplasty to help nose tip definition and scaring?

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