I had a Rhinoplasty 3 weeks ago and my nose is still very swollen. Is this normal?
Swelling after rhinoplasty (nose-reshaping surgery) is normal and expected. Due to the thicker skin around the nasal tip the swelling lasts for up to one year after surgery.
This tries the patience of the patient and surgeon alike, but there is no way around it. The results are worth it for motivated patients who understand the healing process.
While rhinoplasty patients look good enough to resume their normal schedule by 7-10 days, some swelling in the tip skin is present for months. The textbook answer given by rhinoplasty surgeons is 1 year for all swelling to be gone. It just takes time for the skin to become supple again. This is gradual and fortunately a subtle process. I tell patients about 85% of the swelling subsides by 3 months, and the remainder by 1 year.
