Is Vomiting After Rhinoplasty Common?

Nausea and vomiting after rhinoplasty occurs 10% of the time. Just remember it is only temporary. If it happens, it passes within the first day due to either swelling, blood down the back of the nose, anesthesia, or any narcotic administration. It is self-limiting and in no way a reflection on the quality of the rhinoplasty. There are several medications that can help prevent it, but nothing is 100% guaranteed. The medications include a scopolamine patch, Zofran, Decadron, and propanol.

Thank you for your question. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is not an uncommon phenomenon in Surgery, especially with general anesthesia. Certain procedures, such as a rhinoplasty, have a slightly higher incidence of such, approximately 10%.While it is nearly impossible to determine your chance of vomiting after this procedure, there are some measures that can be taken to help reduce the possibility. Things such as what you mentioned (antiemetics and a patch) are helpful. Discussing your history of nausea/vomiting with your anesthesiologist is useful, as s/he can ensure that you are well-hydrated, given intraoperative anti-nausea medications, steroids, and given anesthesia least prone to postoperative nausea and vomiting. Lastly, blood within the stomach is a stimulant for such issues, so minimizing secretions into the stomach as well as aspirating prior to awakening are important. Hope that this helps! Best wishes for a wonderful result!

As you suggest, anesthesia and blood in the stomach are the most common causes of vomiting.

Personally, I believe that twilight anesthesia reduces nausea after surgery. Intravenous medications and anti-vomiting pills can also be given to help reduce the likelihood of nausea after surgery.

One thing you can do is ask family members how they reacted to general anesthesia. If your parents and/or siblings did not have severe nausea after anesthesia, then it is likely you will not have vomiting issues either.

Hope this helps and best of luck.