Are you considering a nose job (rhinoplasty) but worried about the kind of scar you might get? As common as rhinoplasties have become, it can still feel like a huge risk.
The good news is that there are ways to minimize any major scars after nose surgery. You just have to be careful and make sure to ask your surgeon lots of questions before going through with it.
In this article, I’m discussing what kind of scarring is normal after a rhinoplasty — since some things can happen during the operation that will cause more visible scarring in certain areas.
Will Scar Tissue Be an Issue After Rhinoplasty?
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Scar tissue can be a major issue after aesthetic nose surgery. The extent of the scarring depends on the individual, how the rhinoplasty was approached, and how well you care for your nose in the aftermath.
If only subtle changes were made during your procedure, such as reducing a slight bump or narrowing the tip of your nose, then it’s likely that any scarring will be nearly invisible. There can still be some minor scarring on the inside of your nostrils if an open technique was used during your rhinoplasty to lift and reshape the cartilage and other internal structures, but it should be minor and hidden from view as it may not even show up in photos.
On the other hand, more dramatic changes will usually involve a visible scar running along either side of the incision made on the skin. In time this fade to become hard to discern and can ultimately disappear entirely. But if scarring is particularly pronounced due to an individual’s genetic predisposition, treatments like steroid injections may need to be used to reduce their appearance.
Why Does Scar Tissue Form?
Rhinoplasty scars are caused by the body’s natural response to injury. When the body is injured, it produces collagen fibers to rebuild and heal the damaged tissue. Unfortunately, this process often results in scar tissue being formed on the surface of the skin.
Scarring after rhinoplasty can vary widely depending on a number of factors. The amount and type of incisions used to perform the surgery as well as age, skin type, lifestyle choices (smoking/drinking), and genetics all affect how visible or severe a scar may be. The time period between surgeries also affects how well scars heal—typically, longer is better.
Where Will Scar Tissue Form After Rhinoplasty?
When considering rhinoplasty surgery, you want to know what kind of scarring you can expect afterward. To answer this question, it is important to understand where scar tissue will form after the surgery.
Generally speaking, most scarring after a rhinoplasty procedure will be hidden away inside the nose and not visible. However, depending on the type of procedure that was done, a small scar may be visible at the base of your nose (known as an “open” rhinoplasty), above your lip (known as a “columellar” incision or “external” rhinoplasty) or along your nasal septum – underneath your nose (known as a “closed” rhinoplasty). These are all great locations for any potential scarring to hide away from view.
No matter which type of rhinoplasty procedure is performed, every effort will be made to hide any semblance of a scar as much as possible with strategically placed incisions and fine sutures – there’s no need to fear that you’ll have a long-term visible reminder that you had cosmetic surgical work done!
How Can Scar Tissue Be Prevented?
The best way to reduce or avoid scarring is by following pre-surgery and post-surgery care instructions precisely. Prior to the surgery, it’s important to select an experienced and qualified rhinoplasty surgeon who has experience in performing rhinoplasties.
After the surgical procedure, it’s essential to follow your plastic surgeon’s post-operative instructions for caring for your nose: make sure you keep your head elevated when sleeping (resting with extra pillows), cleanse or apply ointments as directed, and avoid activities that may cause excessive pressure or trauma on the nose. Keeping the area clean and protected from sun exposure will help reduce scar visibility over time. Additionally, using a nasal splint can minimize swelling and redness in the area.
Lastly, patient behavior plays an important role: smoking reduces oxygen supply to the area which slows the healing process and increases the risk of infection; therefore smoking should be avoided during recovery. Staying hydrated also helps keep skin healthy which in turn helps prevent excessive scarring after a rhinoplasty procedure.
How Can Scar Tissue Be Treated?
Scar tissue after rhinoplasty can range in appearance depending on individual factors, such as skin tone and age. However, one thing all rhinoplasty patients can count on is that proper care and treatment of the scar site are necessary for an optimal outcome.
Fortunately, there are many treatments available to increase the rate of scar healing and minimize the amount of visible scarring. For example, topical creams containing vitamin E or collagen-building peptides can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. In addition, silicone dressings applied directly to the scar area can further reduce inflammation.
For more severe cases, laser treatments may be used to reduce the visibility of scars by stimulating new collagen production in the skin around them. Laser treatment results are typically seen over several weeks, with gradual improvements as new collagen replaces existing damaged tissue. Finally, steroid injections may be used to reduce discomfort at or near the scar site if pain persists after a rhinoplasty procedure.
Regardless of which treatment is used, it’s important to discuss these options with your surgeon beforehand so they can best determine what might work for you on an individual level given your particular circumstances and needs.
