Bellevue, Seattle Rhinophyma
Rhinophyma FAQ
- What is rhinophyma?
- Rhinophyma is a large, rudy-colored thickened nose with prominent pores. Dilation of superficial blood vessels, fibrous thickening of the nose, oil gland (sebaceous glands) prominence and redness of the nose all increase gradually. It is associated with rosacea and it is more common in men.
- How can I prepare for the rhinophyma procedure?
- It is important to stop smoking before the procedure to enable optimal healing. Anti-inflammatory medication, aspirin, certain herbal supplements and vitamin E should not be used as they promote bleeding.
- How do you treat rhinophyma?
- Rhinophyma is treated by surgical methods to pare down the excess thickened growth on the nose. This can be accomplished dermabrasion, laser treatment, electrocautery to remove excess tissue, shape the nose and smooth surface. Frequently, multiple procedures are used. IPL (intense pulse light) technology is used to decrease redness.
- What kind of anesthesia is used for rhinophyma treatment?
- The anesthesia used can be topical or IV sedation depending on the extent of the procedure.
- What is the recovery time for rhinophyma treatment?
- Recovery after rhinophyma treatment varies with the procedure performed. It can take several weeks to re-epethialise (new skin growth) the treated area but regular social and work activity can be resumed earlier with the help of cover-up make-up.
- What is post procedure care for rhinophyma?
- Lubrication is needed over the area where new skin begins to grow. After the new skin forms, camouflage make-up can be worn to conceal the redness of the healing area. Any pain or discomfort can easily be controlled with oral medications.
- What is the prognosis, outlook, for rhinophyma?
- Rhinophyma cannot be treated with oral medications once the nasal growth has started, but, it can be treated with surgery. In certain cases it may, however, progress requiring further treatment.
- What are the risks with rhinopyma?
- Rhinophyma treatment is safe, but, as with any procedure, there is a possibility of infection, scarring, less than optimal correction, need to retreat. There may be anesthetic risks depending on the type of anesthesia used.
- How much does rhinophyma treatment cost?
- The extent of nasal thickening and growth greatly variy in rhinophyma and the cost of treatment will depend on which modalities will be most effective to return the nose to a more natural, esthetically pleasing appearance.
Rhinophyma is not a new condition, afflicting persons living in the Middle Ages. Its cause is not entirely known but it occurs in the later stages of acne rosacea. In the early stages of rosacea the skin becomes flushed as blood vessels expand. As rosacea progresses, the skin becomes more sensitive with small bumps forming on the nose, cheeks, eyelids and chin. As damage to the skin’s blood vessels progresses, the skin thickens, pore size increases and the sebaceous glands (oil glands) become more prominent. While rhinophyma can affect men or women, it is much more common in men — generally occurring in Caucasian men in their 40’s to 60’s. View our Rhinophyma Photo Gallery to see before and after photos.
Contact Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Surgery for more information or to schedule a consultation.
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