Almost all kinds of surgical procedures have inherent risks. While a rhinoplasty procedure can prove beneficial in improving one’s appearance, correcting innate problems and boosting their self-esteem as well, it cannot be denied that there are rhinoplasty complications. That is the reason why before committing to have a nose job, thorough research on the risks and complications involved in a rhinoplasty procedure is necessary.
Complications from Nose Surgery
While it is considered a relatively safe surgery, there are rare cases of patients suffering from rhinoplasty complications. All surgical procedures have risks attached to it, and this does not exempt nose jobs of having one. Rhinoplasty side effects are generally minor and the possibility of having major complications is usually rare. Here are a few of the rhinoplasty side effects:
- Bursting of the Blood Vessels. This is an unwanted effect of going into a rhinoplasty surgery. The tiny red spots may cause the patient to be conscious but it will fade with time although in some patients, this may leave a permanent mark.
- Wound Infection. There is about a 2% chance of developing wound infections but the percentage increases when a rhinoplasty implant has been used. Antibiotics are used to counteract the infection and drainage for the abscess, cellulites, and granuloma. Also read precautions of nose job plastic surgery
- Scarring. This is a common fear of patients although scarring is very minimal and for closed surgery, the scars are not even visible as they are confined to the insides of the nose.
- Bleeding. Within the first day up to about four months, frequent nosebleeds are common rhinoplasty complications. It could happen to almost all patients who have had the rhinoplasty surgery, which is why blowing the nose is strictly not advised.
- Abnormal Nose Shape. This may be the one of the worst rhinoplasty risks that can bother patients considering of getting a nose job. Primarily, this is caused by a failure in the procedure. However, insufficient elevation of the head after the surgery could also cause the imbalance because the nose is being pulled to one side without the proper support.
- Toxic Shock Syndrome. This is one of the rhinoplasty complications that are very least likely to happen. One in a thousand patients will be affected. The common symptoms of this are vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and sunburn like rashes.
Complications are always imminent in every operation. The smooth recovery of your nose surgery or rhinoplasty all depends on the precaution that your surgeon will take during the operation as well as your recovery treatment. However, knowing the complications that are involved in nose surgery will help the patient understand the possible risks surrounding nose surgery that the patient is prone to and of course, be equipped with preventive measures to avoid these nose surgery complications.
Nose Surgery Complications
- One of the most common nose surgery complications is the patient having an abnormal shape of the nose. This undesirable complication is usually the result of the patient’s activity that may include not enough elevation of the neck or sleeping only on one side or as a result of a mistake during the operation. Some of the undesirable appearance of the nose might be a concave appearance of the whole nose; a nose that might look like the beak of a parrot; a small upturned nose or pug nose, and many other abnormal shapes. Some of these abnormalities in the results of nose surgery can be corrected through a secondary nose surgery in which your surgeon will conduct another operation to revise the nose’s shape or deformity.
- A wound infection might occur after the surgery. In this case, your surgeon will give you the necessary medicines or drugs to prevent the worsening of the infection. Nose surgery complications such as this can be fatal if not properly taken care of.
- Some patients are sensitive to general anesthesia so it is best to inform your surgeon of this condition before the operation is conducted. Generally, the primary risks involved with administering general anesthesia to patient are respiratory-related. Smoking may also cause anesthesia toxicity so it is best to be sure that you tell your surgeon about indications that may increase your chances of having complications due to general anesthesia.
- Burst blood vessels are also one of the problems that a patient may encounter during rhinoplasty. The procedure in rhinoplasty causes the small blood vessels to burst and the burst blood vessels may appear as tiny red spots that are barely visible to the eye.
- Permanent discoloration may also occur.
- Bleeding may also occur as this is because of the incisions made in the inner area of the nose. Bleeding may occur for months after the patient’s surgery but this can be minimized or prevented by avoiding picking or blowing the nose while the wound is still fresh.
- Scarring may also occur as this is the result of the wound healing but these scars are sure to fade with time.


