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One of the most serious side effects of cocaine use is a nasal deformity, namely a hole in the nasal septum. While reconstructive surgery is an option for repairing the nasal cavity to its former state, surgical intervention will not do much good until the days of using cocaine are a thing of the past.
Have you decided you want to stop using coke and want your cocaine nose issues repaired?
If you have already entered into recovery, or are considering how best to get help, here is what you need to know about septal perforation and how to fix a hole in nose from coke!
You might be wondering what actually causes “cocaine nose,” as the direct mechanism is often not what many people think it is. When you snort cocaine, the blood vessels in the nasal lining constrict. Extended use causes the blood vessels to constrict more frequently. In turn, this leads to the death of the tissues found in the nasal lining.
Oftentimes, this results in a hole in the nasal septum (the layer of cartilage that separates both nostrils).
Cocaine use can be problematic for more than just your septum though. As the hole starts to form, you also run the risk of infections. Scar tissue frequently forms in the affected area. If not treated early, the nose itself can actually collapse.
Any type of nasal deformity that results from cocaine use in this way is commonly referred to as cocaine nose or “coke nose.”
The good news is that once you enter into recovery from cocaine addiction, there are options for treatment of any nasal septum perforation. Some of them involve surgical repair while others are less invasive.
With cocaine abuse in your past, you can discuss treatment options with a team of doctors who truly understand the ins and outs of repairing a ‘cocaine nose.’ Many accredited facilities can assist you with surgical and other options as you navigate the road toward treatment of cocaine addiction.
Rehabs Of Armerica offers placement at such centers nationwide, and will help you find a facility with treatment options nearby for ‘cocaine nose’ repair if desired.
Most people will want to opt for a less invasive treatment first if this is a possibility. If the symptoms of your cocaine nose are mild and are not continuing to progress due to entering into treatment, a doctor may recommend management rather than repair.
One way to address cocaine nose is to minimize irritation of the nasal cavity with a saline nasal rinse. You may be prescribed a nasal spray or ointment to keep the nasal lining moist and less irritated from the constriction of blood vessels. This is often the first step for those who are not as affected and may have a smaller hole.
At-home remedies like Vitamin E and petroleum jelly are also great options for minor irritation and dryness that makes you feel uncomfortable. Be careful applying petroleum jelly, leaving it just on the edges of the nostrils to prevent further issues. While you may have discomfort further in the nasal cavity, you do not want to put petroleum jelly or Vaseline further into the nostril.
On the other hand, your doctor may opt to cover the hole if it is causing issues. A plug could perform this job well.
In some severe cases, you may actually need to have a surgical team attend to the hole in your nasal cavity. You may find that there are several surgical interventions for a perforated septum caused by snorting cocaine. Most of the time, surgery depends on how much of a problem your cocaine nose causes for you.
There are also multiple types of surgeries that can help with a saddle nose (a collapsed bridge) or a nasal perforation.
One of the most prominent ways to treat a hole in the nose from cocaine is a skin graft. This utilizes your own skin from other parts of the body to repair the hole in the nasal passages.
The new cartilage that is placed in the perforation resumes some of the blood flow and blood supply to this area. Both of these are in short supply when you are actively in the throes of cocaine addiction as the blood vessels constrict. At the same time, you will get back the shape of your nose.
In addition to septal perforation repair, you may also require more assistance with your blood supply and blood flow to the affected area. Many people who have struggled with cocaine use have permanently damaged the blood vessels in the nasal lining.
Your treatment team can recommend another skin graft to reintroduce blood flow to the nose. The skin graft will come from another part of the body, often the forearm where you may have perfectly healthy tissue. The blood vessels will need to be connected to the vessels in the surrounding area to improve blood flow.
If you had trouble breathing due to the condition of the lining of the nose, this can repair your ability to breathe freely.
As a result, large perforations in the nostrils or tissue may require multiple surgeries. A graft is not always able to repair the damage in one fell swoop. The tissue may need to be reshaped multiple times and any infection may need to be treated first. Surgery can be a long process depending on the severity of your coke nose.
This is why each surgical intervention is uniquely tailored to the individual needs, as long as a patient continues to live a sober lifestyle.
It may sound like surgery is the best option for a perforated septum. However, you must keep in mind that you do not want to get surgery for cocaine nose until you are positive that your cocaine use is a thing of the past. Even if you allow your doctor or treatment team to repair the damage caused by snorting cocaine, it can happen again.
Return to cocaine abuse, especially if taken via the nasal passages, can cause your cocaine nose to resurface, or even worsen.
That being said, it is usually recommended that you spend several months in recovery prior to opting for reconstructive surgery. You can find a recovery center that can work with you to get the facial plastic surgery you may need to repair a saddle nose or cocaine nose.
As long as you take care of the surgery site and do not return to snorting coke, you may see long-term reparation of your perforated septum tissue.
Are you still using cocaine but growing concerned about further damage to the nose? The inner lining of the nose is sensitive when exposed to long-term cocaine use. Encountering nasal perforations is common among those who are entering into treatment for their cocaine use.
The key to a successful repair is to stop cocaine use altogether and find support for lasting abstinence from cocaine. An effective treatment program will help you not only with detox and inpatient programs but also with support for restoring your physical health.
Rehabs Of Armerica can help you or your loved one to find the right accredited rehab facilities nationwide. Once you are under the guidance of a healthcare professional, they can connect you with surgical and non-surgical options while receiving treatment. Alternatively, it can be a key component of your aftercare as you begin to embrace sober living on your own.
To prevent further damage to the nose, you must stop cocaine use now. Allow us to help you find the perfect place to land in the early days of your recovery and sober lifestyle, reach out now to get our confidential addiction help!
Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.
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