Does Rhinoplasty Put You at Risk for Keloid Scarring?

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With the nature of rhinoplasty being an invasive procedure, some patients raise concerns when it comes to scarring. One particular scar that many are concerned about is a keloid. This can ruin the aesthetic result of rhinoplasty and usually this can be a problem in an open nose surgery technique.

It is only right to worry about scarring especially in some patients where an external approach is usually used. You also have to address this concern to your surgeon. But it also helps to know that different parts of the body heal differently. It is rare for keloids to develop in the central face.

Cosmetic surgeons even claim that they have not seen a rhinoplasty-related keloid in their years of practice.

People usually confuse a hypertrophic scar with keloids. Both are results of an overgrowth of dense fibrous tissue that develops after a skin injury. They are considered to abnormal responses to trauma.

Keloids first develop as a hypertrophic scar but they eventually extend beyond the site of injury. They take on a red and raised nodules that form after the skin is wounded. It is made up of skin cells and connective tissues. Its size also increase as a person ages.

Related Post: Rhinoplasty: How to Shorten Your Recovery Period

Both men and women both have equal chances in forming keloids, but dark-colored skin individuals are most affected.

Hypertrophic scars look similar to a keloid and they are more common. Unlike keloids, they don't increase in size, and these fade over time. Individuals of all racial groups can be affected.

It is fortunate that the central part of the face is not affected by keloids, particularly the nose and the eyelids. But there are surgeons who also say that it is theoretically possible to form a hypertrophic scar or a keloid if you get an open rhinoplasty done. Usually this forms in the area near the columella (the soft tissue located between the nostrils) where a small incision is often created.

One of the instances where keloids can become a concern with rhinoplasty is during Weir excisions, which is used when narrowing a widened base of the nose. Although this is not necessarily done in all nose surgeries, but it is something that you have to ask your surgeon about if this comes up in the planning.

A closed rhinoplasty would be ideal if you are concerned with scar formation, but you also have to consider the visual limitations that this approach entails.

If you are concerned about keloids, although they rarely exist in the nasal area at all, it can be a good idea to inject the incision line with a certain amount of Kenaloh 10 once the wound heals.

You should know that a scar on the nose heals pretty well after a rhinoplasty. If you are prone to forming keloids in other parts of your body, like the chest, ears or shoulder, you can let your cosmetic surgeon know ahead of time. In this way, he can map out an approach that would suit you well in terms of creating excellent aesthetic outcome.