If I go out of state for Rhinoplasty, are follow ups really important by original surgeon or would I be ok seeing an ENT?

Follow up appointments after rhinoplasty are extremely important and should be done by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon. Most rhinoplasty surgeons follow their patients for at least one year after surgery as it takes at least that long to completely heal. A surgeon (even ENT) that does not perform rhinoplasty often may not be aware of what is normal versus abnormal. Pick an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and be sure to have frequent follow up appointments for at least one year. Good luck!

Many patients come to my practice from outside Colorado. I recommend that our patients stay in the Denver area until their splint and sutures are removed (5-6 days). At that point it is safe to return home. You can followup with your surgeon by phone and email or send photos by text or email. The key is to ensure that if you have any concerns during the first year that your surgeon will accommodate your schedule. You can certainly followup with another plastic surgeon or ENT at home but if any issues were to develop you want to see the surgeon who knows you and your procedure best. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

I have a lot of out of state patients for rhinoplasty, and I have not had a problem in the followup period.  I perform these surgeries
with closed technique
to preserve the structure of the nose and minimize visible scarring.
Look at website before and after galleries and reviews to help you
select your surgeon.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Out of state rhinoplasty is something we have done for 35 years without problem. We currently have Skype available for questions but are rarely needed. 

 It is acceptable to travel out of state to undergo a rhinoplasty procedure, however its equally important follow up with your surgeon a couple of times to address any issues in the healing process. Look for a very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon  closest to where you live.

Dear Popcornpumpkin, It is very common to perform surgery on patients from out of state as well as out of the country. The requirement in my office is a seven day stay until the splint is removed. Most rhinoplasty procedures need little follow up and if the patient has any questions or concerns it is common to find a friend or colleague in the patients area that is happy to do a follow up appointment. One of my greatest joys as a surgeon is seeing the recovery process and being able to share in my patients joy! So thank goodness for Skype as it allows us surgeons to stay in contact with our out of town patients. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Over the past 35 years I've done rhinoplasties on many patients from out of state and out of the country without problems. They stay in Beverly Hills for 6 days after the surgery. Using the internet and Skype it is easy to continue communicating with them after they return home.