Rhinitis and Sinus Infection After Rhinoplasty, What to Do
Rhinitis after rhinoplasty, a warning sign not to ignore
Rhinoplasty is a type of surgery. If aftercare is not suitable, or a problem happens during surgery, complications can occur. One complication that worries many people who have rhinoplasty is “rhinitis“.
If the nasal passages are not cared for properly after rhinoplasty, this may lead to serious problems.
Rhinitis, or inflammation of the lining of the nasal passages, can happen after rhinoplasty for many reasons, such as:
- a viral, bacterial or fungal infection
- allergens
- irritation from the environment
- inflammation from the surgery and the materials used
What Are the Main Causes of Rhinitis After Rhinoplasty?
- irritation from materials used in rhinoplasty, such as silicone or synthetic materials, that do not meet standards or that your body reacts against
- injury to the tissue inside the nose, such as the nasal lining, causing severe swelling, bruising and inflammation after surgery
- infection from an operating theatre environment that does not meet standards
- unsuitable aftercare during recovery
- techniques used to reshape the original nasal structure by a surgeon with little experience, which affect airflow and fluid drainage in the nasal passages, so debris stays inside and causes inflammation
- an allergy to materials used in surgery, such as surgical tape, gauze or the rhinoplasty materials
- health problems, for example people with a history of allergies or sinusitis have a higher risk of rhinitis after surgery
How to Tell If You Have Rhinitis After Rhinoplasty
- a blocked, stuffy nose on both sides
- a runny nose with cloudy, thick mucus or pus (green or yellow mucus caused by a bacterial infection)
- a stinging feeling inside the nose, with pain, swelling and redness
- a bad smell inside the nose, possibly from an infection with pus building up in the nasal passages
- sneezing more often than usual, possibly because the body is trying to push foreign material out of the nose
- headache or pain in the face, especially around the eyes and cheeks
- a fever
- difficulty breathing, so you have to breathe through your mouth
If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor straight away. Do not wait, because this may directly affect your health and cause long-term problems.
Treating Rhinitis After Rhinoplasty
Treatment depends on the cause and how severe the symptoms are. The doctor will diagnose and treat it as follows:
- antibiotics, antivirals, decongestants, antihistamines or painkillers (depending on each person’s symptoms)
- rinsing the nose with saline, to reduce blocked mucus and irritation in the nose
- nasal sprays, to reduce congestion and swelling in the nose (use them only as advised by a doctor)
- cold compresses around the nose, to reduce swelling
- getting enough sleep and drinking enough water, to help your body recover and support your immune system
- not smoking, and avoiding places with a high risk of allergens, such as chemicals or a lot of dust
- revision rhinoplasty, if rhinitis is chronic or is caused by an unsuitable nasal structure or a severe infection. The surgeon will consider revision rhinoplasty to deal with the problem, such as removing the silicone or other original implant, rebuilding the nasal structure and choosing a suitable revision technique and materials
Why Rhinitis After Rhinoplasty May Need Revision Rhinoplasty
When the cause is inflammation, medicine and the care above can be used first. But if the doctor finds any of the following causes, revision rhinoplasty may be needed:
- chronic symptoms that come and go over a long period and do not improve with medicine or other treatments
- the rhinoplasty material causes your body to reject it or react to it
- a severe infection in the nose that spreads into the nasal passages, where the implant has to be removed to control the infection
- the nasal structure after rhinoplasty is found to be the cause of the inflammation, so revision rhinoplasty is needed to rebuild the structure
To lower the chance of problems after rhinoplasty, consult an experienced surgeon and give full details of any drug allergies, medical conditions, how many times you have had nose surgery and the problems you have had, so that the surgeon can assess you and plan surgery that suits you.
