Risks of Rhinoplasty

A very rare but extremely serious side effect of Rhinoplasty is Toxic Shock Syndrome. It is estimated that this condition, resulting from a kind of blood poisonings, occurs in roughly 0.016% of such surgeries. When rhinoplasty does result in a case of TSS, the rate of resulting death is nearly 11%. It is generally believed that this is caused by “bad blood” being reabsorbed into the body, more specifically, it has to do with certain bacteria’s naturally present in the body being absorbed into the body as the result of packing.

It is most commonly associated with tampon use, and poor feminine hygiene. In the case of the nose reconstruction patient, it is likely caused by nasal packing. Symptoms to watch for include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and a rash that looks and feels much like a sun burn. If you suffer any of the above you should seek the advice of your plastic surgeon without delay.

The most common risk associated with Rhinoplasty is abnormal nose appearance or placement. This can happen for several reasons, one of which is a botched surgery. More commonly this occurs because there is not enough support around the newly sculpted nose after surgery. A slightly misshaped or misattached cast, early cast removal, failure to follow elevated sleeping recommendations, and other unknown factors can all contribute to this issue. In most cases, this condition will require a second rhinoplasty surgery.