Introduction > Plastic surgery > Rhinoplasty > Risks and complications
Risks and complications
When rhinoplasty is performed, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection, nosebleed, or a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following our surgeon's instructions both before and after surgery.
After surgery, small burst blood vessels may appear as tiny red spots on the surface of the skin; these are usually minor but may be permanent. As for scarring, when rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose, there is no visible scarring at all; when an "open" technique is used, or when the procedure calls for the narrowing of flared nostrils, the small scars on the base of the nose are usually not visible.
The final shape of the nose will be seen only after months, or even a year, because the skin requires time to adjust to the altered nose shape. Surgery only guarantees 80% of the final result, while the remaining 20% is determined by your healing ability after the surgery. In some cases, a second procedure may be required even after a year following surgery—for example, to correct a minor deformity. Such problems are unpredictable and happen even to patients of the most skilled surgeons. The corrective surgery is usually minor.
