Is It Normal to Have a Red Nose Tip After Asian Nose Job?

     Cartilage graft visibility and skin thinning or reddening can always occur with the placement of a cartilage graft.  The graft may need to be removed and other measures taken.  You need to be examined to determine what needs to be done.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Redness and firmness of the nasal tip can indicate a number of things.  As others have mentioned, it can be worrisome for an infection or other dermatologic condition.  Given the duration of the redness (9 months) these are unlikely but still should be ruled out by following up with your surgeon.  

The other possibility depends on the degree your tip projection was increased.  Sometimes with significant tip projection the grafts can cause quite a bit of pressure on the overlying skin, creating a prolonged redness or erythema.  In some patients this can take up to a year to resolve.  

It is not normal to have redness at the tip of the nose at 9 months. It could be due to an issue with your cartilage graft, infection, or an issue with the skin itself. I recommend following up with your surgeon and having this looked at. If it is a malpositioned cartilage graft, this may require revision. If it is an infection, you may need antibiotics or drainage. If it is a skin issue, this too can be treated according to what is causing it. With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, it should get better. Definitely get it evaluated.

At nine months a red nose would raise some suspicion of infection or dermatological cause for this event.  I would see my plastic surgeon and perhaps a dermatologist as well.

thank you for your question

redness of the nose in particular the tip can occur after rhinoplasty but does more often occur when cartilage grafts are placed. If it truly is red and hard and shiny and some revision may be needed. Three hard to say over e-mail or on the Internet without a physical exam but if the tip projection and refinement was very aggressive and maybe very tight and the new blood vessels that grew into the wound bed are very apparent. You may be able to help us with steroid injections or even PRP or platelet rich plasma injections without resorting to surgery. The easiest and safest thing is to simply give it more time and this can take a year or more to resolve completely.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful

Chase Lay, MD

Asian facial plastic specialist

double board certified facial plastic surgeon

At 9 months your tip should not be too red. Go see your surgeon as you may be having some trouble with the cartilage graft.. Do you have Rosacea? It is very uncommon in the Asian population,but here in Toronto I have seen it and it required treatment.