The complications of external rhinoplasty.

An analysis of complications of 867 consecutive external rhinoplasties over a 14-year period is presented. The most common intraoperative complication was excessive bleeding. Transient epiphora, bleeding, excessive and/or prolonged edema, septal dematoma, transient anosmia and various problems with packing were observed in the early postoperative period. Late complications included hypertrophic scar, localized periostitis, skin telangiectasia, etc. The complications of external rhinoplasty are comparable in incidence and severity of standard endonasal rhinoplasty.