FPS Facial Plastic Surgery · 2020

Effect of Nasal Skin Type on Skin Problems following Rhinoplasty

Erdur ZB, Öktem F, İnci E, Yener HM, Gözen ED, Birben AÖ, Bayazit S, Engin B.

What this paper says

Among 35 patients split by measured skin oiliness, those with oily nasal skin had significantly higher upper eyelid bruising at day 7, while acne and seborrhea severity did not differ.

Overview

Skin problems after rhinoplasty can leave patients dissatisfied even when the shape is good. This study measured nasal skin oil production before surgery, divided patients at the median, and tracked bruising, swelling, acne and seborrhea over the following months.

Sections of note

35 patients operated at a tertiary referral center between May 2018 and August 2019.
Nasal skin sebum level was measured with a Sebumeter before surgery and patients were split at the median.
Oily skin group: 17 patients, 14 male and 3 female, mean sebum level 200.3 SD 26.9.
Dry skin group: 18 patients, 10 male and 8 female, mean sebum level 101.9 SD 38.
Bruising and swelling around the eyes were assessed on postoperative days 1, 3 and 7.
Acne and seborrhea severity were graded with the Global Acne Grading System and the Seborrheic Dermatitis Area Severity Index the day before surgery and at days 7 and 14 and months 1, 3 and 10.
Upper eyelid bruising at day 7 was significantly higher in the oily skin group, p 0.044; no significant differences were found for acne or seborrhea severity.

What it means for a patient

Oilier nasal skin was associated with more bruising on the upper eyelid at one week.
Acne and seborrhea after surgery did not differ between the two skin types over 10 months.
Skin oiliness can be measured before surgery, making the prediction possible at consultation.
Limits: 35 patients split into groups of 17 and 18, one center, unequal sex distribution between groups, and a single significant finding among many comparisons.

Why this paper matters

Skin behavior is repeatedly named as a determinant of rhinoplasty results but rarely measured objectively. Using a sebum meter rather than clinical impression is the study's strength. The small sample and multiple comparisons mean the single significant result should be treated cautiously.

Terms

Sebum: The oil produced by glands in the skin.
Sebumeter: A device measuring skin surface oil quantitatively.
Seborrhea: Excessive oiliness of the skin, sometimes with scaling.
Periorbital: Around the eye.
Global Acne Grading System: A standardized scale for scoring acne severity.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Skin problems following rhinoplasty may cause dissatisfaction concerning the esthetic expectations of the patients. This study was conducted to determine whether nasal skin type has an effect on skin problems after rhinoplasty. Thirty-five patients undergoing rhinoplasty in our tertiary referral center between May…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.