Is a Kenalog injection for a normal swollen nose tip beneficial in any way?

The use of injectable steroids may not be advisable for the treatment of normal nasal swelling after rhinoplasty, even in those with thick and oily nasal skin. All swelling reduces in time, and follow-up visits with your surgeon may be helpful and reassuring for you. Hope this helps! Dr Joseph

Hi and thank you for your great question! Kenalog injections can be very effective in appropriate patients with prolonged tip swelling as a result of open rhinoplasty. Although it is meant to break down or loosen up scar tissue, it is an anti-inflammatory agent and can therefore reduce tissue edema/fluid as well. Generally speaking, I only use Kenalog injections to the tip in primary rhinoplasties after 6 months (6-9 months), in order to give adequate time for the healing process (which can take up to 1 year) to do its thing prior to adding another intervention. In revision cases or cases with some propensity to develop scar tissue in that area (if you have reduced a nose significantly and created deadspace that needs to be obliterated before it turns to scar) I will be a little more aggressive and earlier in my intervention with Kenalog injections. There are certainly risks involved with Kenalog injections to the nose in a post operative patient, as others have corrected pointed out. Ultimately, talking to your surgeon is the best way to figure out an adequate follow-up plan and to alleviate your concerns. Hope that helped! Best, Dr. Roy. 

Recovering from rhinoplasty is a healing process. Part of that process is waiting for the swelling to go down. Factors affecting swelling are thick skin, revision surgery, using rib grafts or extensive grafting, salt intake, sun and heat exposure. Steroids are used to reduce scar tissue formation. It can temporarily improve swelling; however, there are risks of thinning the skin or injuring the blood supply or other rare but scary complications. I do use steroids but I am very conservative for safe and happy result. Safety comes first.

Some surgeons use kenalog to help reduce the swelling. In my opinion, I think that is a temporary effect and steroids can cause soft tissue atrophy and telangiectasias as a side effect.

It sounds like there is a difference on the type of swelling you are looking to decrease and what your surgeon is recommending. In general, thick skin does hold on to "swelling" for longer but that is within the skin itself. The swelling we use injectable steroids for is beneath the skin and this is where it will help avoid scar tissue. Follow your surgeons advice. Best of luck

Although Kenalog injections may diminish swelling short term the primary use, as stated by your surgeon,  is to limit excessive subcutaneous scarring in the tip.  Discuss use of a retinoid with your surgeon to help with your oily skin.  Regards.Dr. Kiener

Kenalog is a corticosteroid, and as such it helps to inhibit scar tissue and excessive edema in thick skinned individuals during the postoperative phase of healing following rhinoplasty. It is less useful for treating thick skin only and can cause unwanted side effects, such as skin atrophy if too concentrated or with repeated injections. It should only be injected beneath the skin, not intradermally.