With DCR surgery, the risk of complications is very low – and they can be managed quickly, such as bleeding and displacement of the tube.
With external DCR, the skin incision on the side of the nose typically settles very well and is not noticeable in most patients.
Infection after surgery is very uncommon, and all patients are given antibiotics during and after the procedure.
Rarely, the normal healing process in the nose can lead to the development of a fine membrane across the internal opening, with recurrence of symptoms (mainly watery eyes).
Over 50% of such patients respond to removing the membrane and reinsertion of the silicone’ stent’ in the nose under sedation or general anaesthesia.