Does Rhinoplasty Leave Scarring?
If you’re considering a rhinoplasty procedure, then you’ll probably be imagining what it will be like immediately after the surgery. Films and TV often portray characters with panda eyes and casts on their nose, right after their procedures.
Of course, any surgery will lead to some discomfort, but your doctor will prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatories or steroids to help with the immediate healing.
What about once the bruising has gone? The reason many people consider cosmetic rhinoplasty is to feel better about their appearance, but won’t surgery leave you with scars?
Plastic surgeons are as concerned about your appearance as you are. They want the procedure to deliver the ‘new you’ that you were hoping for, and they understand that won’t include new facial scarring. Specialist plastic surgeon training takes six years, so your surgical staff will be well qualified and experienced.
There are two types of rhinoplasty: open and closed. Open rhinoplasty involves the surgeon making a small incision in the fleshy part of the nasal septum, through which they carry out the reshaping or repair. In a closed rhinoplasty, the surgeon only makes cuts inside the nose (endonasal), so there is no chance of external scarring.
This means that, even if you were to need an open rhinoplasty, there would only be a very small incision. A well trained and experienced plastic surgeon will make sure to make the incision at a place where it is least likely to be visible after surgery is complete.
Is there anything that you can do to help minimise scarring, after an open rhinoplasty? The simplest piece of advice would be to listen carefully to your doctor when he talks to you about post-surgical care.
You can also give any wound the best chance of healing. The best way to do this is to take advice about when to rest. You should avoid sport or other activities where you’re exerting yourself, but even smiling or laughing too hard can cause you to aggravate a wound with a wide smile! Be careful when you’re carrying out routine tasks like brushing your teeth or getting dressed and try not to stretch or knock your upper lip, which could move the septum.
There’s every chance that you won’t have any kind of scar from a rhinoplasty, but if you do, it will be very small and in a discrete position. Still, there are treatments that you can use to help the skin repair any scarring. Rosehip oil is well known for promoting skin healing and can be used by simply massaging a drop or two into your skin morning and night. Professional products are also available to help with scar healing, such as the SkinCeuticals range of advanced skin care products.
Whether you are having a rhinoplasty procedure for purely cosmetic reasons, or due to some underlying health concern, scarring is unlikely. Don’t let this concern hold you back.