Post operative edema: rib grafting. Will this cause significant discomfort inside the nose?

Question

Hi, I am considering undergoing a reconstructive surgery that will entail dorsal onlay grafts to build up the bridge of the nose. How severe is post operative edema, and will the grafts cause significant discomfort inside the nose?

Summit Kundaria, MD · Answer

RevisionSeeker23,
Thanks for your question.  The amount of edema depends on the amount of soft tissue dissection and size of the rib graft, as well as what other tissues are used (temporalis fascia or perichondrium), so it's hard to say how severe the edema is.  Also, five patients can have the exact same surgery and some swell more than others, so the individual variability is quite wide.  Typically the discomfort is not much worse than another rhinoplasty.  Good luck!

Post operative edema: rib grafting. Will this cause significant discomfort inside the nose?

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