Inflammation Appearing 23 Years After Rhinoplasty — Antibiotics, Implant Removal, and Revision Timing
2024. 1. 31.
If inflammation is suspected inside the nose 23 years after rhinoplasty — confirming the infection range through examination and needed tests, then individually deciding on antibiotics, implant removal, and reconstruction timing.
Key points
- If redness, pain, swelling, discharge, or a wound appears around an old implant, get a direct evaluation at a plastic surgery clinic or ENT without delay.
- Antibiotic choice and whether to remove the implant are decided based on the infection's location and range, whether there is exposure or abscess, and needed test results.
- Reconstruction timing after removal is not fixed at "6 months" — it is decided individually after confirming the infection has resolved and soft tissue has stabilized.
"Something like a pimple appeared inside my nose, so I went to an ENT — they said it seems like inflammation from the cosmetic surgery. It's been about 23 years since the surgery, and Gore-Tex was placed."
A question posted on Naver Jisik-iN. The clinic that operated was too long ago to know, and they had heard Gore-Tex revision is difficult and costly, so they wanted to know the treatment approach. Even for surgery done decades ago, if symptoms suggesting inflammation appear inside the nose, the order of response — organized here based on that answer.
01
If inflammation appears at an old surgical site, what comes first?
If inflammation is occurring now, treatment for the inflammation must come first. What to do with the implant and whether to revise are questions for after that.
The treatment direction is set after direct examination and needed tests confirm the infection's location and range and whether there is implant exposure or an abscess. Do not arbitrarily repeat antibiotics you were already taking or use leftover medication — get evaluated at a plastic surgery clinic or ENT that can also handle the possibility of implant removal.
02
When do implant removal and revision happen?
What follows differs depending on the degree of inflammation.
| Degree of inflammation | Course |
|---|---|
| Implant exposure, abscess, or persistent infection suspected | The medical team evaluates the need for drainage, tests, and implant removal |
| Local symptoms with uncertain implant involvement | After confirming the cause and range, medication, care, and observation are decided |
Whether to remove the implant cannot be confirmed from symptoms alone, and cosmetic shape correction is not rushed while infection is suspected. Reconstruction after removal is judged individually — staged or simultaneous — after confirming the infection has resolved and the state of skin and soft tissue. Criteria for revision decisions can be seen in more detail in the revision rhinoplasty guide.
03
Summary — infection treatment first, revision after
If inflammation is suspected at the site of an implant placed long ago, first confirm the infection's range and implant involvement through direct examination and needed tests. Antibiotics, drainage, implant removal, and reconstruction timing all differ by condition — they are not set by a fixed "6-month" rule. The most important thing is not to delay checking the condition.
If you are curious which stage your current symptoms are at, you can check through a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
Can inflammation occur even more than 20 years after surgery?
The clinic that operated is gone — where should I go?
If inflammation occurs, must the implant always be removed?
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. 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.