Why Does My Rhinoplasty Scar Tissue Return After Massage?

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

    At this point, you should pose this question to your surgeon, because he or she has been able to observe the evolution of your nose after rhinoplasty.  In some thick-skinned individuals it is possible to still have swelling at 18 months, particularly given your description.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

I would imagine that most of your scar tissue should resolve after 2 years.  Thick skin is always a problem for a rhinoplasty since it can not be removed.  Would really need photos to give you a better idea of what can be accomplished with continued massage.