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Risks & Complications

Can rhinoplasty cause permanent numbness?

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Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.

A

For the vast majority of patients, no — the numbness that occurs after rhinoplasty is temporary, resulting from small nerve fibers in the skin being disturbed during surgery, and sensation typically returns gradually over the following months as those fibers heal and reconnect.

Truly permanent numbness is uncommon, but not impossible — it's more of a consideration in complex revision cases involving extensive scar tissue or multiple previous surgeries, where nerve pathways may have already been more significantly disrupted before your procedure with us even begins. Dr. Kim discusses this honestly as part of the broader risk conversation for complex cases specifically, rather than presenting it as a universal concern for every patient.

Consultation Tip

If you're considering revision surgery with significant prior scar tissue, ask Dr. Kim specifically about nerve considerations for your case — this is a reasonable question that a thorough surgeon should be able to address directly.

Ready to talk to Dr. Kim? Reach out on WhatsApp to book your video consultation: Chat with us on WhatsApp (+82 10-4434-6234)

— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery

What follows is general guidance. The actual cause and surgical approach are decided only after an internal examination, a CT scan and a review of your previous surgical history.