Can rhinoplasty potentially lead to the development of rhinophyma?

Rhinoplasty does not lead to the development of rhinophyma. Rhinophyma is massively enlarged skin glands.  Swelling after rhinoplasty is retained body fluid which has leaked out from the capillaries and small blood vessel after the trauma.  

There is no evidence that rhinoplasty can start the development of a rhinophyma. Just having sebaceous skin alone is not enough of a risk factor that a rhinophyma will happen. Rhinophymas are uncommon entities and rhinoplasty can be done without much concern.RegardsDr. J

You are correct that rhinoplasty of a thick skinned nose can lead to prolonged swelling. Rhinophyma is a distinct problem of the nasal skin that is not related to post surgical swelling. In some people with very sebaceous skin, rhinoplasty can be followed by fractional laser resurfacing to thin and refine the nasal skin envelope. You should seek a consultation for more specific advice but rhinoplasty does not lead to rhinophyma. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Great question!   Don't worry though, it will not cause rhinophyma.   A rhinoplasty will cause swelling of the nasal tip post operatively and may cause additional clogged pores.   But if you don't have rosacea, you will not get long term rhinophyma.  You may want to seek treatment for you acne prior to getting your surgery, possibly taking an acne suitable antibiotic to help reduce your skins production of oils and limit acne.  Peri operative steroids can also help limit the swelling associated with surgery.  Stay informed and well educated, you are a great potential patient.

Thanks for your question. As you know, rhinophyma is end-stage rosacea that affects the thickness of your epidermis leaving thickened, oily skin that can cause obstruction and disfigurement. People can get black heads and acne breakouts in the immediate post-surgical period because we cover the nose with a cast preventing normal skin care. After a couple of weeks this usually settles down. It might not be a bad idea to get your acne under better control before considering nasal surgery. Good luck!

While thick skin poses aesthetic limitations in rhinoplasty surgery, it does not create the condition of rhinophyma. Rhinophyma is a pathologic condition of the oil glands in the nose. That is not know to be triggered by a surgical insult.

Dear purplxed,

Thank you for your clinical post. Many patients with thick oily skin who
undergo rhinoplasty especially of the tip worry that will make their skin
worse. In general, rhinophyma is a condition
of hyperplasia of the pilosebaceous glands or an overgrowth of the sweat
glands. Endonasal or external
rhinoplasty will not stimulate this. For
the most part, external rhinoplasty can be performed such as some of the
subcutaneous tissue can be trimmed and the nose actually looks thinner. If you’re meant to develop rhinophyma this
will occur with or without rhinoplasty and rhinophyma can be treated with
transepidermal technique such as fractional resurfacing using Erbium, CO2 or
other ablative devices. In addition, any
tendency towards Rosacea and enlarged pores and oily skin should be treated
independent of the risk of rhinophyma.

Prior to engaging in a rhinoplasty procedure it is important
to undergo a consultation where computer imaging of the nose with realistic
sense of the before and afters that can be achieved is presented to you. This will allow you to have a good sense of
what kind of outcomes you can achieve with a tip plasty or generalized rhinoplasty.

I hope this information has been of some assistance and best
of luck.

For more information, please review the link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto