How long is it normal to have swelling after rhinoplasty?

The amount of swelling and how long it persists after rhinoplasty depends on several factors such as the surgeon's technique, open versus closed approach, whether the nasal bones were broken, and the number of prior nasal surgeries.
Patients in whom open rhinoplasty techniques were used, cases in which the nasal bones were broken, and a history of one or more previous nasal surgeries often will have more prolonged swelling.
During the first week, most patients will have moderate swelling . Usually, by the end of the second week, much of the bruising and swelling have subsided to the point that it is not obvious to the casual observer that the patient has had surgery.
However, the nose will look swollen or puffy to the patient for 3 to 4 months. It usually takes a full year for the residual swelling to resolve and the final result be apparent.

The nose is notorious for taking a long time for the swelling to subside, particularly in the tip of the nose. One reason I prefer a closed approach (no external scars) in most cases is because there is no scar across the columella (the vertical structure between the nostrils) and this allows the swelling to go down a little faster. But even a week or so after surgery, the refinement is starting to become visible and it only gets better with time, so that 6 months after surgery only a tiny amount of swelling remains. The swelling is not a problem because the new, more refined contour is introduced gradually. I attached a link to my website in case you wish to read more.

Swelling after a Rhinoplasty can persist for an extended period of time. With an open technique, a small amount of swelling usually exists at the tip for up to one year. At three weeks, I would expect less swelling than shortly after surgery, but a fairly significant amount would not be unusual.

The length of time for swelling after rhinoplasty is a very commonly asked question. The answer is a very common answer in plastic surgery - it depends. Typically, about 75% of swelling is gone after two weeks, especially in a person who follows the post operative instructions. At that point, the nose should look pretty normal to other people. The patient and surgeon will probably continue to notice some swelling that will then gradually decrease over the next 6-12 months. It will be a slower process for the patient since he or she sees their nose every day. The swelling will be increased if the skin of the tip is thick, and it may take longer before it looks ready. But for every single patient, if we take a photo at two weeks after surgery and again at one year, there will be a readily apparent difference.

Great question.  SO noses unlike breasts or abdomens take a lot longer to heal.  Swelling can last up to a year or year and half.  The initial 80% will resolve in the first 6wks.  The final 20% may take the rest of the year.  The thicker your skin the longer it takes.  Many ethnic noses like Latinos or Asians take a long time.  The key is as follows.....if your nose looks amazing at 2 months then it will likely look bad at 1 year when all the swelling resolves....you must be patient.  Hope that helps

Swelling after rhinoplasty varies from patient to patient. In general, most of the swelling should be gone in 2 or 3 months. However, many patients experience subtle changes for up to a year or more. Three weeks is still very early. If your nose is very swollen, however, that may be cause for concern. You should discuss your concerns with your surgeon. Good luck.

Acute swelling from primary rhinoplasty can vary but generally lasts 3-4 months.  Chronic swelling however may persist up to 2 years or longer.  Generally this is not an issue unless the patient has thick sebaceous skin and is focussed mainly on the tip region of the nose.

Hello and thank you for your question. The swelling lasts a long time in certain patients. I always advise my patients that the final result takes at least 1.5 years for the swelling to fully resolve. Steroid injections performed by your surgeon can be extremely helpful after surgery. I start these as early as one month after surgery. I recommend that you maintain close follow up with your board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

The recovery process after a rhinoplasty looks different based on a number factors including extent of surgery, primary vs revision, patient skin thickness, etc. etc. That being said, in general it can take 12-18 months for swelling to fully resolve. A large portion of this is completed in the first few months after surgery, but patients will typically continue to see subtle improvements in the level of swelling over the subsequent year or so. Often this is most notable in the nasal tip as this area tends to hold on to swelling a bit longer than the rest of the nose. It can certainly be a concerning process for patients as they await for the swelling to fully resolve, but there are a few things that can sometimes help. Elevating the head of the bed or sleeping on several pillows can help by employing gravity to let the swelling travel "downhill". Intermittent use of ice packs wrapped in a towel can also help with some of the swelling. Even things like maintaining a healthy, low-sodium diet may prevent some of this fluid from sticking around. It is important to have a good relationship with your surgeon during this process who can evaluate you and determine if you have more swelling than average and whether any further intervention or recommendation may help this process.
Hope this helps and best of luck! Kyle Kimura, MD

Depending on the complexity of your operation, swelling may last up to 12 months, maybe even longer. This is especially the case for patients who have thick skin. However, most patients will see that the swelling will subside within 2 months.
I can't give you the exact answer for your case because I don't have your picture but the rule of thumb is generally after 3-4 months most patients feel comfortable with their new look. It can, however, take up to a year or longer for your nose to settle into its new shape, especially around the tip. Keep in mind that if your surgery is a revision rhinoplasty, it may even take longer. In your case, 3 weeks is too early for you to see the final result. Best wishes.

Hi there. The degree of swelling post op is highly variable. Factors increasing swelling include thick skin, long or complex surgery, but in most cases it just varies from patient to patient. The splint keeps a bit of the swelling down so it is normal to see a bit more swelling after the splint is removed (this can be treated by using the splint at night for at least 6 weeks after surgery). Generally about 70% has resolved by 6 weeks, but it can take a year or two for the rest to go.