Is scratching your nose 12 months after rhinoplasty damaging?

Question

Hi! I'm almost a year post op- I know everyone says at a year you're fully healed but I still swell a lot. My question is, is it okay to aggressively scratch your nose at 12 months post op? I get itching dry skin when it gets cold and I've been waking up to find myself scratching pretty hard on my nose. Will this do any damage/ change appearance, etc? Thanks!

Richard A. Bartlett, MD · Answer

Dear Roxy8, Thank you for your question and congratulations on your rhinoplasty. It is not going to be detrimental to your outcome if you scratch your nose at 12 months post-operatively. However, if you are very dry and itchy, I suggest trying a moisturizer to help prevent severe itching. If you are still having concerns, I suggest following up with your primary care physician or you board certified operating surgeon. Best of luck to you!

Eddy Dona, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

Scratching your nose after a Rhinoplasty will not damage or change your results. I would recommend to moisturise twice daily to help with the dry itchy skin.

Eduardo Ochoa, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question Roxy
  
After 12 months you should have healed properly, don´t worry about scratching your nose, there shouldn´t be any problem, however try not to be aggressive and avoid any trauma to the nose. If you have itchy nose I suggest you use facial lotion to keep your skin hydrated, specially when its cold.

I hope you find this useful, wish you the best!

Paul N. Afrooz, MD · Answer

It is unlikely that you will damage your nose just by scratching it.  However, I would refrain from doing anything too aggressively.

Daniel Zeichner, MD · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
While traumatizing your (almost) healed rhinoplasty won't damage bony or cartilaginous structures, repeated scratching of the nose (with or without rhinoplasty) may cause chronic irritation leading to more scratching, and in some individuals may eventually cause skin scarring. You may wish to try a moisturizer to lessen the irritation. If this fails to give you relief, you may need to undergo dermatologic evaluation.
Best wishes...

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

It is doubtful that scratching your nose at 1 year post op will damage it.   Have your surgeon examine it.

Is scratching your nose 12 months after rhinoplasty damaging?

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