Rhinoplasty Risks
All surgery has risks. This is the basic truth of surgical procedures, but Rhinoplasty ranks low on the potential risk scale.
Rhinoplasty Risks
This is the most important rule to remember when considering any surgical or even any medical procedure. There is always some risk. It is not unlike driving your automobile. You can expect to do it time and time again with no problem, and then one day someone will cross the highway and smash into you. Medical procedures are like this.
Infection is possible in any type of surgery. Despite the fact that all precautions are taken to prevent infection, it always looms as a possibility. The key to dealing with post operative infection is to detect it as early as possible. This is often difficult with a surgical procedure. In the case of Rhinoplasty, there will be some swelling, bruising, and minor pain that might mask early signs of infection. You need to have an idea of what is normal and what is not, and not be afraid to return to the doctor if anything seems amiss.
Anesthetics present another potential risk. It is normally best to use the least anesthetics possible because there is always a possibility of a bad reaction to them. However, this is often a decision made based on the patient’s comfort level and resistance to pain. Some complicated procedures will require more anesthetics. The reactions to general anesthesia are unpredictable although like the automobile ride, they are generally safe.
Scarring can be a concern. Most Rhinoplasty procedures are “closed Rhinoplasty” which means all incisions are made inside the nose. However, some are not and the possibility of scarring exists. In some cases, a second corrective procedure might be necessary after a Rhinoplasty operation. Although these are uncommon also, it sometimes happens that healing does not occur as anticipated and correction is necessary.
The problem with discussing the risks of any operation is much like the risk of reading the information on the potential side effects of medicines. It has a tendency to sound very scary. This is not the purpose here. Rhinoplasty is one of the safest of all surgical procedures and complications are very rare. The problem is that very rare and non-existent are two different things, and a person has the right to be aware of any potential risks regardless of how small or uncommon they might be. This way they make an informed decision.