Steroid Injections for Hard, Swollen Tip After Rhinoplasty?

Steroid injections help expedite the resolution of swelling and inflammation.  They can also dissuade scar tissue from forming.  When needed, the are usually they are more effective when injected sooner than 1 year out.  You may still have some residual swelling, but it may also simply be how your nose is going to continue to look if it is due to the underlying cartilage framework.  If you are still noticing slow, but steady change, its probably best to see the effect of the injection and give it a little more time.

It is common for surgeons to CAREFULLY inject steroids following a rhinoplasty to help modulate the swelling and healing process.  This is ideal in the early months as the nose is inflamed and still changing.  Once you no longer see change in the nose the likehood of steroids working becomes less.  A nose usually stays swollen up to 1.5yrs so its possible the steroid injections may help a little at this point but I wouldnt expect a major change.  Time will tell

Proven methods include massage, steroids, and time. With massage, do not be overly aggressive and follow the instructions of your surgeon to prevent increased inflammation. Steroids are most helpful in the early weeks to months after surgery, but may be used years later as well. With time, sometimes years, all hardness and swelling will eventually subside.

Depending on your skin type, and what was done during your rhinoplasty surgery, you may have persistent swelling in the lower third of your nose. If steroid injections are not helpful in achieving your goals, consider re-asking your query with photos, or consider a second opinion from another rhinoplasty specialist. Hope this helps. Dr Joseph

It’s not unusual for patients to experience significant
swelling following rhinoplasty surgery. This swelling may persist for 12 to 18 months following surgery and
results in the nose being extremely stiff. When this situation arises steroid injections are occasionally
helpful. It’s important to use steroids
judiciously because they can cause hypopigmentation, spider veins and skin
atrophy.Swelling
usually resolves with the passage of time. For this reason, patients considering steroid injections should consider
the pros and cons of this maneuver before proceeding.

Swelling
after rhinoplasty particularly in the nasal tip is normal and is a part of
normal healing. There is little to stop the tip of your nose swelling as only a
small volume of swelling can be visible in this area of the nose.

A
combination of factors will help with reducing swelling. Firstly, sleeping with
your head slightly elevated above the rest of your body. Secondly, the use of
taping compression of your nose soon after surgery. Thirdly, the use of
anti-inflammatory treatments to the tip of the nose, including steroids. Dr. De
Silva advocates the use of such medicine in most patients to speed up the
resolution of swelling and ensure faster recovery after surgery. Although the
final results of rhinoplasty can be more than one year after surgery, the use
of anti-inflammatories can shorten this period considerably. Patients with
thicker skin which includes certain ethnicities and ethnic rhinoplasty, may
benefit from more than one anti-inflammatory treatment. Dr. De Silva routinely
uses steroids with other anti-inflammatory medications to speed up the
resolution after surgery as part of the procedure to give every patient the
best possible result.

Yes, a steroid injection in your nasal tipis an excellent way to make the tissue soften and the skin thin out a bit.  I use this techniques commonly.  The improvement will be quite gradual, ver a few months, but it is commonly used in cases like yours.

Thank you for the question. Yes, steroid injections (typically kenalog) can be very useful in breaking up hard swelling or scar tissue after rhinoplasty. These can be repeated every 4-6 weeks with increasing doses. Persistent swelling is not uncommon and generally happens at the tip of the nose.  Other treatments, such as massage and taping, can also be helpful. Please stay in touch with your surgeon throughout this process.

Steroids are used for hard swollen tips of the nose following rhinoplasty.  They are usually given several months after surgery.  The effect is to have the nose soften and shrink.  After a rhinoplasty the nose can be swollen for a year or more.

In general, steroid injections especially after a primary rhinoplasty are not indicated. However, in secondary rhinoplasty it may be indicated in a thick-skinned or male patient if done properly, one can do it very judiciously as long as it is not injected in the dermal level. I would highly recommend that it be done by a surgeon of expertise in secondary rhinoplasty. This can be done along with taping and massaging of the nasal tip. It may take up to a year or longer to see the final result in rhinoplasty.