Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) Bay Area & San Francisco

What are the risks of Rhinoplasty?

All surgical procedures carry some uncertainty and risk and this operation is no different. Although there are many possible complications, the good news is that the combined risk of having any major complication is still rare as long as your surgeon is properly trained and the procedure is performed in a well-equipped facility. The following represents some of the major complications but is not meant to be comprehensive.

Major bleeding is a rare complication after surgery and usually can be controlled with various medications. Nasal packing is rarely necessary. Infection is also quite rare.

Scarring usually is not problematic. With closed rhinoplasty the scars are invisible. Even with open rhinoplasty, the very small external scar is rarely noticeable. The scars necessary to reduce the size of the nostrils can be more problematic if not done properly.

Breathing problems may occur after surgery. This is usually temporary while swelling is present but in rare cases can be permanent.

Occasionally a second procedure may be necessary to correct a minor deformity or to make small adjustments depending on the case. However this is rarely done prior to 1 year from the time of the original procedure as swelling tends to persist and the nose continues to change during this healing period.