Question: I have terrible seasonal allergies right now. Can I get rhinoplasty or should I wait until next season?
Answer: A rhinoplasty will add to the nasal swelling from seasonal allergies, and this can be uncomfortable for patients, who will have nasal packing and splints in place following surgery, and who will not be able to blow their nose, often for several weeks. Delaying rhinoplasty until allergies have resolved is one option to minimize this scenario. If a rhinoplasty is performed during a flare of seasonal allergies, the surgeon may consider the use of steroid (Kenalog) injection into the turbinates before or at the time of surgery. This results in decreased nasal swelling and relieves many of the nasal allergy symptoms.