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Rhinoplasty Swelling
asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Kenneth Dickie, MD
Question viewed 135,217 times
Tags: healing, post-op, recovery, swelling
I had a Rhinoplasty 3 weeks ago and my nose is still very swollen. How long is it normal to have rhinoplasty swelling after surgery?
77 answers to Rhinoplasty Swelling
+5
Swelling and Rhinoplasty a match made in Heaven
Swelling after rhinoplasty can be very annoying for patients. Often times I have less patience than even my own patients to see what we have really created in the nasal shaping! However, you must trust your surgeon in that he/she knows what was created in the operating room. That is what counts. Your surgeon should not leave the Operating Room until everything looks as good as possible. Then it is just a matter of being patient and waiting for time to pass.
Taping and massaging can...
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+1
Swelling after Rhinoplasty
The duration of swelling after rhinoplasty will vary depending on exactly what was done during your surgery and the thickness and quality of your skin. The most obvious change will occur in the first six weeks, and then will slowly improve for one year.
+11
Swelling after Rhinoplasty: Gradual Improvement
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 ....
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+8
Rhinoplasty swelling
Rhinoplasty swelling is common immediately after surgery. The amount of swelling can depend on procedure performed, surgical technique and individual differences in your healing.
Tip swelling is usually the last to resolve.
Head elevation and post-operative splinting can help reduce swelling and speed recovery.
I hope this helps
+7
Rhinoplasty is an operation that takes at least a year...
Rhinoplasty is an operation that takes at least a year to fully recover from.
I recommend icing and sleeping with the head of the bed elevated during the first 7-10 days to keep swelling to a minimum.
My patients all get Aquaplast nasal casts placed to keep swelling down for 7 days.
It can take 2-4 weeks before the nose shrinks enough to become socially acceptable to most patients.
The biggest change in swelling occurs between the 8th-12th months.
Postoperative massage and injectible...
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Manish H. Shah, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
Denver Plastic Surgeon
+6
Swelling 3 weeks after Rhinoplasty is normal
Rhinoplasty swelling occurs both on the outside and inside of the nose. Patients are generally "restaurant ready" and socially acceptable within 2 weeks following surgery. Most swelling after rhinoplasty resolves within a month. The final 20% of swelling takes a much longer time to resolve, up to a year after surgery. Fortunately, this final swelling is usually only evident to the surgeon and patient.
Rhinoplasty swelling varies greatly and is largely based on the areas of the...
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+5
Rhinoplasty Swelling
Great question.
Swelling after Rhinoplasty can last anywhere from a few months to a year before all of the sweeling has disappeared. This would not be unusual.
Best of luck,
Dr. David Alessi
David Alessi, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+5
Thick skin or reduction rhinoplasty takes longer
The duration of swelling depends on what was done, the thickness of the skin covering, and the change in size of the nose. The longer the surgery takes and the more maneuveres performed in general will lead to more swelling. Thicker skin will also take a longer to time to contract and resolve swelling. Finally reduction surgery (making the nose smaller) creates a situation in which the skin must "shrink to fit" the reduced infrastructure of the nose--this takes...
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David W. Kim, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+5
It can be
For patients undergoing rhinoplasty, swelling is not uncommon. In some approaches to rhinoplasty, swelling may persist for a year or longer. In general, most of the swelling will be gone in about a month. There are many factors which can aggravate swelling and can change this timing though. If you have a concern, I would suggest visiting with the surgeon who performed the proedure to ask them if this is something that is normal.
D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+5
Approximately 70-80% of the swelling will subside one...
Approximately 70-80% of the swelling will subside one month after Rhinoplasty surgery. It takes a full year for the other 20-30% of the swelling to resolve. At this time final results are seen. Most of the residual swelling after the Rhinoplasty settles in the tip of the nose, this takes the longest to subside. These observations are based on the last several thousand nasal surgeries Dr. Portuese has performed.
+4
Swelling after nose surgery
Due to the complex nature of the nose, swelling may take 12-18 months to resolve after surgery. Most swelling resolves after two weeks. If you have any redness, or increasing tenderness you should call your doctor. If any grafts were used in the rhinoplasty, check with your doctor to make sure you do not have any excessive swelling thqat could be a sign of infection. 8-10% of the population are MRSA carriers so it is always better to have your doctor evaluate you if you have concerns,...
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Brian Maloney, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
+4
Rhinoplasty Swelling is Complex
Rhinoplasty swelling is different for everyone but I will generalize. Most patients have a good looking nose about 10 days after the surgery. The swelling is far from gone at this point but it is no longer obvious. Within a couple months it is over 90% gone. It may take several years for 100% of swelling to be gone. Swelling is very dependent on skin thickness. The thicker the skin, the more significant the swelling.
+4
After Rhinoplasty, swelling lasts longest at the tip
There are several stages of swelling after rhinoplasty surgery. We advise our patients that they can expect to be "restaurant ready" one week after rhinoplasty surgery, meaning they can go out in public and not look, "strange", by that time.
However there will still be considerable swelling, especially at the tip for up to 3-6 months. In some occasions, your surgeon may want to help decrease swelling and reduce scar tissue development by injecting...
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+4
Swelling after Rhinoplasty can present up to a year
Swelling after a Rhinoplasty surgery can be present up to 1 year post-surgery depending upon the extent of the procedure itself. Generally, the majority of swelling goes away in the first 4-6 months, but it can take up to 1 year for the results of your Rhinoplasty to truly be seen properly.
The main thing is to make sure your surgeon is experienced in nasal surgeries to minimize recovery issues as much as possible. Given that you are only 3 weeks post-surgery, it is quite normal for you to...
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Scott W. Mosser, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+4
Rhinoplasty Swelling
It has been my experience that there is great variability in the amount of swelling after rhinoplasy. The swelling will depend on whether the rhinoplasty was 'open' or 'closed', primary or secondary, whether grafts were placed, the patient's predisposition to swelling and the thickness of the nasal skin. I agree that it generally takes about 12 months for the swelling to resolve. If you have an obvious hump, supra-tip fullness or asymmetry after 12 months, you should discuss the risks...
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Daniel Reichner, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
+3
Swelling After Rhinoplasty
This is a very common problem. Generally, I leave a cast on the nose for one week after surgery. This helps with swelling, but shortly after removing the cast, the nose usually swells. By the end of the second week, the nose is starting to take some of it's permanent shape, but is hard for most to envision what it will look like long-term. By the end of the 6th week, it is really getting close to the final look. If the tip is swollen, you can inject it...
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+3
Swelling After Rhinoplasty
The swelling after Rhinoplasty slowly diminishes over an average of 18 months.
Do check with your surgeon to be sure your swelling is not more than expected or a sign of a problem requiring treatment.
+3
Rhinoplasty swelling after 3 weeks is expected
It is very normal and expected to have swelling after only 3 weeks following rhinoplasty. It is well understood that swelling can last up to a year so be patient and you should see a slow but steady improvement.
Jason B. Diamond, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+3
Swelling from Rhinoplasty takes weeks / months to resolve.
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 simply takes time for the skin to become supple again. This is a gradual and subtle process.
Bottom Line: I tell patients they'll look good enough to socialize by 10 days, with about 85% of the swelling subsiding by 3 months, and the...
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+3
Swelling after Nose Job (Rhinoplasty)
Swelling after a rhinoplasty can be vary patient to patient and is related to how complex the rhinoplasty surgery was. At 1 week, it is very common to be very swollen, but over the next 2 weeks people are usually only minimally swollen. Most of our patients in Naples, Florida return to school or work within 2 weeks with cover up makeup. If you are significantly swollen at 3 weeks, you need to see your plastic surgeon to be evaluated. It is true that swelling persists for 12 - 15 months...
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Kent V. Hasen, MD
Naples Plastic Surgeon
Naples Plastic Surgeon
+3
Rhinoplasty - Nasal Surgery and Bruising, Edema (Swelling) after surgery
There are many different variations of a standard rhinoplasty. The surgery can entail correction of the nasal bones, the cartilage, the septum, the mucosa, the skin, the nostrils, and the nasal tip, just to name a few.
The more corrective the rhinoplasty procedure, the more edema and bruising you will get. The swelling is also highly dependent on how difficult and time consuming the surgery was prior to placing a nasal splint.
In most cases, a rhinoplasty procedure consists of an...
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Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+3
Swelling after rhinoplasty
The general rule of thumb for resolution of rhinoplasty swelling is the following:
80% reduction of swelling within 6 weeks
90% reduction within 6 months
100% reduction within 1 year
Although this serves as a good rule of thumb, it is important to remember that there is interpersonal variation. Some patients have very little swelling, and some have tremendous swelling that lasts a long time. Observations of patients with previous rhinoplasty has also demonstrated that some patients...
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Behrooz Torkian, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+3
Healing after rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty may produce swelling that can last for a prolonged period of time. The definition of 'prolonged' may be different between patients and surgeons, so I always try to talk to my patients in absolute time periods.
Typically, I tell my patients that reduction of swelling to a point of 'social acceptability' is between 1-2 weeks. Healing occurs over a long time but 70-80% of swelling will be gone by 1 month. This is especially true in the tip and the sides of the bones near the eyes if...
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Richard W. Westreich, MD
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling after Rhinoplasty
Although healing times and the amount of swelling is different for each patient, you can expect substantial swelling to subside after about 4 weeks, and subtle swelling to fully diminish up to one year (this is when patients typically see "full results"). However, after Rhinoplasty you can enjoy social activities or as some call it, be "restaurant ready", in as little as 10 days.
Kindly,
Dr. Ken Dickie
Kenneth Dickie, MD
Barrie Plastic Surgeon
Barrie Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling of the Nose Following Rhinoplasty
I advise my patients that 80% of swelling resolves over the first 2 months following rhinoplasty surgery and that final results will be achieved between the 6 and 12 months later. Tip swelling is the slowest to resolve and is usually more evident in thick skinned individuals. In a patient who has swelling that is excessive, a course of oral steroids or steroid injections may be considered, however, this would have to be discussed with your surgeon.
Andrew B. Denton, MD
Vancouver Facial Plastic Surgeon
Vancouver Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling after nose reshaping.
The early results of this surgery are evident in two to three weeks and are usually quite gratifying. However, you will continue to notice an improvement in the contour and form of your nose for six to twelve months as the last remnants of the swelling disappear.
see video
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling After Rhinoplasty
This is one of the more commonly asked questions about Rhinoplasty. It takes a year or more for all of the swelling to subside and that for the "result" to appear. In fact, the nose can change for up to 5 years after Rhinoplasty surgery. Most of the swelling you will notice will be in the nasal tip. Things that are relatively apparent immediately after surgery include removal of a nasal hump, straightening of a crooked nose, and rotation of a nasal tip.
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+2
Swelling
The majority of acute swelling after a rhinoplasty should be gone in 10 days, however some swelling will persist for months and even up to 1 year. Different surgeons have different technique and as such different degrees of post-op swelling. I hold pressure on my osteotomie sites for 5 minutes after I do them and this greatly reduces post of swelling. Also even a complicated rhinoplasty I can usually get done in less than 1 hour which reduces swelling. At 3 weeks post -op excessive swelling...
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+2
Swelling after rhinoplasty- what should be expected?
Typically, it is normal to have obvious swelling of the nose for up to 2-3 weeks. It depends on what was done. The more extensive the surgery, the longer it take for swelling to settle. After 2-3 weeks time, the nose will still be swollen, but it is not noticeable to others. The rest of the swelling will go down over a period of 1 year. I typically tell patients, it takes about 3 months for the upper bridge to settle, another 3 months for the middle bridge, and another 6...
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+2
Obvious swelling following rhinoplasty surgery will often last up to 4-6 weeks
Obvious swelling following rhinoplasty surgery will often last up to 4-6 weeks. I find it particularly important to warn patients that when the nasal splint first comes off, be prepared to see some swelling. After 4-6 weeks, you will likely be much happier with the contour and shape of the nose; however, there is still substantial swelling that is less noticeable to the casual observer - for up to 6-9 months.
+2
Swelling common 3 weeks following rhinoplasty
Swelling is normal 3 weeks following nasal surgery. If you've had an open or external rhinoplasty you can have moderate swelling for 6-8 weeks. You can expect gradual resolution of tissue swelling and improved definition of the tip from that point up to 12 months following surgery.
+2
Rhinoplasty Swelling
Swelling after a rhinoplasty is one of the biggest concerns for patients. Many patients (and some surgeons) that the nose is mostly healed at one month. However, while the nose may look presentable at 3 weeks, the nose's shape will continue to change over the first year, with the majority of healing taking placed during that time.
Noses which are projected (stick out further from the face than the original nose) tend to swell less than noses which are deprojected...
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Anil R. Shah, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
How Long Before Swelling Goes Down After Rhinoplasty
The answer to this depends to some degree on whether you had an open or closed rhinoplasty procedure. With a closed approach (where no incisions are made externally) you will still be swollen at 3 weeks out. However, you will likely look fairly presentable in the public eye. With an open rhinoplasty approach, you will also look presentable but have slightly more swelling than a closed approach at 3 weeks out. You will notice a gradual decline in swelling as the weeks go on with a plateau in...
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+2
Swelling after rhinoplasty
The swelling after rhinoplasty can take a long time to completely go away. There is a three phase healing process from rhinoplasty. The first 2-3 weeks the initial swelling will be getting better. You will begin to see the new shape of the nose. The second phase is 2-3 months during which most of the swelling will go away. You will start seeing the details in your nose and the true shape will come out. The final phase can take up to a year. You may have swelling at the tip and some numbness...
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Adam Rubinstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2
Rhinoplasty recovery
You will not be able to notice the true results of your rhinoplasty immediately, particularly since initial swelling and bandages will obscure your view of the nose itself. After a week or two, your bandages and splints will be removed, allowing full view of the results, which will continue to unfold for up to a year after surgery. It is important to be patient and follow your instructions specifically, in order to achieve the best results possible.
Best Wishes,
DoctorMeade
+2
Swelling 3 weeks after rhinoplasty
It is normal to have swelling 3 weeks after rhinoplasty, but the degree of swelling will vary from patient to patient. Most of this will be gone within a few weeks, but some will remain for about a year. During this time, the changes are subtle. Make sure to discuss your concerns with your surgeon.
+2
Swelling can last a long time after rhinoplasty
Yes, it is completely normal for you to have swelling three weeks after rhinoplasty. This is especially true fot the lower one third of the nose. In some cases, swlling can persist for a year or even longer.
Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling may take months to resolve
When I was a resident 25 years ago, I was taught that it takes a year to see the final result from a rhinoplasty. This has to do with, not only remodeling of the tissue, but also resolution of the swelling. I tell my patients that 50% of the swelling is gone in two weeks and 70% in two months. A lot of this also depends on how much work is being done. If the nasal bones are being repositioned, and there is extensive nasal tip work ,including grafting, as well as work on the septum, there...
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Joseph M. Perlman, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling after rhinoplasty
Yes - it is very normal to have significant swelling at 3 weeks. Generally at 1 month, most people you meet for the first time will not know that you have had nasal surgery, but the swelling will take much longer to resolve. Typically, it takes 6 months for swelling to disappear from the bridge, and 1 year or longer for tip and sidewall swelling to resolve. An easy way to watch the resolution of swelling it to monitor the dents caused by sunglasses. They will become smaller and smaller...
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Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+2
Rhinoplasty swelling can last up to a year in some patients
Rhinoplasty swelling can last up to a year in some patients especially in the lower third of the nose. If one has a complete rhinoplasty including the upper, middle and lower thirds of the nose, the swelling can take a full year to subside even if the noticeable part to others is gone sooner.For example, the tip can take up to a year or year and a half to reach its normal supple nature and also for all of the tip definition to occur. Typically, the upper third is back to normal in about two...
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Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Rhinoplasty Puffiness
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.
Ira D. Papel, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Rhinoplasty swelling can take weeks to months sometimes
Rhinoplasty can take weeks to up to a month or so for the swelliing to go down. Sometimes using steroids can help this swelling along. But you should be aware of the risks of steroids and thoroughly discuss this with your doctor. Also, you should be aware that very subtle changes can actually take up to two years to really be noticeable. These subtleties most commonly take place at the nasal tip.
I would definitely avoid heat, as this can only make things worse by increasing the blood flow...
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+2
The swelling varies for each individual patient. Open...
The swelling varies for each individual patient. Open rhinoplasty techniques tend to cause more post-operative swelling that persists for a longer time than closed rhinoplasty. Most swelling will dissipate after 3-4 weeks. However there can be residual swelling and changes for up to 1 year especially with open rhinoplasty. This be said, it usually is very minor swelling that the patient and doctor would appreciate and not so much friends and acquantances. But, "open"...
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+1
Rhinoplasty swelling
It is very normal to have Rhinoplasty swelling for weeks after the surgery. You will notice swelling for awhile, but your friends will not. Heat tends to keep the nose swollen longer. It would be well advised not to bake in the sun. An average patient can have some swelling up to a year. Be patient and enjoy your new nose.
+1
Swelling after rhinoplasty improves quickly initially but the final result is gradual
Like any surgical procedure, recovery after rhinoplasty varies considerably between patients. Most patients are back to work in a week, after their splints come out. Bruising and the majority of swelling are mostly resolved after 2-3 weeks. Most patients will not show obvious signs of surgery after about 3 weeks. However, the end result cosmetically can take 18 months or more because residual swelling resolves gradually and the skin envelope of the nose will contract and redrape around the...
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+1
How long does it take for swelling to resolve after rhinoplasty?
In my experience, most of the swelling resolves in the first month. The rest of the swelling resolves fully over the next 6-11 months. The amount of swelling depends on whether or not osteotomies (breaks in the nasal bones) are done. There is less swelling if osteotomies are not needed. Most patients take 1 week off of work and although the nose is still swollen at that time, it is a smaller, better shaped nose.
+1
Rhinoplasty swelling
Swelling after rhinoplasty takes 6 months to fully resolve. About 1/2 is gone at a month and 2/3 at 2 months. The rest trails off over the following months. There are day to day flucuations usually resolving in a few months, but occassionally for a year. There is generally more swelling if its revision surgery, open rhinoplasty, osteotomies, thicker skin, additionl septoplasty or extensive reconstruction.
+1
Swelling after Rhinoplasty
The amount of visible swelling following rhinoplasty should settle within 3 weeks. If you notice a deformaty that persists for longer than 4 weeks it may be due to displaced nasal bones or inadequete treatment of subcutanous nasal structures preventing to obtain slimming of your nose that was desired pre-operatively.
Kris Conrad, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Post op Swelling
I tell all my patients to expect noticeable swelling over the bones (the upper part of your nose) for about 4-6 weeks. The swelling in the tip, however, can persist for 12-18 months to some degree. It will be noticeable to you for that period but probably not others. It will show up in casual photos for the first 3 months.. If you have thick or oily skin in particular, it can take quite a while to clear. Sometimes surgeons use small steroid injections along the...
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Stuart H. Bentkover, MD
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Waiting for the skin to shrink for rhinoplasty results to look great
Swelling after rhinoplasty can last up to three months or more. However, final result won't be visible until over one year. The reason is, that the skin has to contract around the underlying cartilages. While this can occur very quickly in certain types of skin, most skin of regular thickness to very thick in nature require at least one year before the underlying contour can be revealed
+1
Length of time for swelling after rhinoplasty
Swelling after rhinoplasty, especially within the first three weeks, is normal. In fact, swelling can be present for upwards of one year after surgery. The majority of the edema should be resolved, though, by 3 to 6 months after your procedure.
Corey S. Maas, MD
San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Various factors determine swelling; patience is key.
Unfortunately, swelling does occur and can last for some time after rhinoplasty. A variety of things determine how much swelling a patient has and how long it lasts. First and foremost, is whether a patient had an open rhinoplasty technique. This involves the surgeon making a small incision underneath the nose to help give a better view during the surgical procedure. While I am a strong advocate of this technique, it definitely does increase swelling in the first weeks after surgery. A...
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+1
Swelling after rhinoplasty or nose job
Swelling after rhinoplasty or a nose job is very common. This is also dependent on the amount of work done, duration of surgery, and the thickness of the skin. Most patients can expect 30% of swelling to subside at 3 weeks and 50% of swelling to subside at 6 weeks. Otherwise, it may take up to one year for swelling to abate and in cases of thick skin, 1.5-2years. Hang in there.
+1
Nose swelling
Every rhinoplasty has some swelling. The degree of which is dependent on the specific procedure done, the degree of dificulty of the procedure and the use of steroids as part of post operative care. Generally speaking a Rule of Thumb is swelling maximizes at 72 hours and begins the process of going down after that. The acute swelling may last a couple of weeks, then the long term shrinkage of the swelling takes place in 3-6 months and may continue to shrink for as long as a year.
In...
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Jon Sattler, MD
Glendora Plastic Surgeon
Glendora Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling of nose after nasal surgery
The nose is like a sponge hanging on to water in the tissue as it heals. I really takes six to nine months to get a true picture of the final result. Patience is your friend at this point. Also, head elevation is critical to maximize the resolution of the swelling.
Wishing you all the best,
Tal Raine MD FACS
Talmage J. Raine, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Nasal surgery results evolve over years!!
Rhinoplasty results evolve and change over time. One of the most interesting exercises an experienced Rhinoplasty surgeon can do is to compare the standard one year post op photos with 10 year long term results. The nose and surgical result will evolved and change!
On primary (first time) nasal surgeries, we expect to see 50% of the swelling gone at 6 weeks, 75% at 6 months, and 90-95% reduction at a year. Thicker skin takes longer than thin skin. Revision longer than first time...
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Richard L. Dolsky, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
+1
Post rhinoplasty swelling is normal and could last for up to a year.
Depending upon the extent of the rhinoplasty, there can be a firmness and swelling to the tip of the nose for 3-4 months until it softens with subtle changes up to a year.
Peter Schmid, DO
Longmont Facial Plastic Surgeon
Longmont Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Persistent Swelling after Rhinoplasty
If you've chosen a good surgeon he/she will be able to reassure you whether your swelling falls within the range of normal. Fracturing of the nasal bones is usually the culprit when there is significant swelling. Splinting and taping can reduce this somewhat. Avoiding strenuous activities and keeping your head elevated after surgery can also reduce swelling. Some patients have more bleeding than others and this will cause more swelling. I've also found that some patients...
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+1
Rhinoplasty postoperative swelling (edema)
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.
+1
Swelling times vary GREATLY!
The nose is one of those structures that takes a while to let go of swelling. The more surgery that was required, the greater the swelling, and resultingly, the longer the swelling will last. It is not unheard of for swelling to last a few weeks. However, by the 4 week time period the majority of the swelling should be down such that others don't really notice it in public. However, if you stare at your nose in the mirror, you will not see fine tip details, etc....
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+1
Up to 9 months
Although a significant amount of swelling resolves within 6 weeks, it may take about none months before all the edema and swelling has resolved.
Amir Moradi, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling 3 weeks after rhinoplasty
A good amount of swelling from the surgery should be resolved when the splint is removed at approximately 1 week after surgery, but it isnt uncommon for some patient to still have significant swelling if they are very physically active and work out alot. If that is your case, you may want to refrain from exercise for a couple of weeks and see if the swelling resolves. Some swelling post op will last for up to a year after surgery, but should become less and less over time, and...
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+1
Rhinoplasty Results
You should be able to notice great improvement in the appearance of your nose once the cast/splint is remove from the nose. Swelling following rhinoplasty is mostly resolved in the first 6-12 weeks.
Most patients are able to go back to their normal activities and work within the first 7-10 days after surgery. However to be precise, the healing process would take up to a year to complete.
Depending on the skill and surgical techniques of your surgeon and the degree of the work that...
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+1
Minimizing swelling after rhinoplasty
There is still some swelling expected at 3 weeks post rhinoplasty, although it should not be significant. Although it can take 3-4 months for most of the swelling to subside, most of our patients look presentable and able to return to work after 7-10 days. The degree of post operative swelling to some extend depends on surgeon's operative technique and skill.
+1
How to minimize swelling after rhinoplasty
Swelling after rhinoplasty varies depending on the extent of the procedures performed. My general advice to patients is that 80% of the swelling subsides after 2 weeks, 90% after 2 months. Healing continues up to a year after the procedure. We make sure patients avoid any type of medications that may thin their blood (aspirin products, garlic, vitamin E, etc), take Vitamin C, arnica and other homeopathics prior to the surgery, and avoid alcohol perioperatively. ...
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Ramtin Kassir, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after rhinoplasty
You probably should have some swelling three weeks after your rhinoplasty. Swelling after surgery depends upon what is done (how extensive), the amount of bruising (more bruising = more swelling), your body response (you cannot control), and your activity after surgery (more active = more swelling). Most swelling of the nose will be gone within 3-6 weeks, but swelling of the tip may last a year or more. Your surgeon can tell you if your swelling is unusual, however.
Randy J. Buckspan, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1
Rhinoplasty swelling
Swelling after a rhinplasty can last for a long time. Although, you should see clear improvements, immediately. Long-term results can take a year or more to appreciate due to swelling. This is the hardest part for the patient, because it takes patience. Give it time and follow up closely with your surgeon. He/she should be used to this.
Dustin L. Reid, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after Rhinoplasty
Swelling after Rhinoplasty surgery improves in stages and depends on the extent of the surgery and the technique used. Most open rhinoplasties have more tip swelling when compared to closed techniques but the differences even out after three months. It is most important to follow up with your surgeon and review your post operative instructions.
James Newman, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after rhinoplasty
Swelling after rhinoplasty may last up to one year and beyond. The key is to know that. Your physician should tell you that the swelling is part of the recovery and that it will subside. Sometimes the swelling persists and you may need a small amount of steroid injections to hurry it along. You will see a difference with your nose right away but be patient. After about 6 weeks your swelling will get better.
Carlos Wolf, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after Rhinoplasty
In the majority of cases the average uninformed person will not realize an individual had rhinoplasty surgery within 3 weeks of a surgery. Depending on whether tip work is done and the extent of the procedure, it can take a full year for the swelling to resolve. Luckily, most is gone in 3 to 6 months. Studies have shown that even subtle changes occur in the operated nose over the ensuing 5 years. The key is to have your nasal surgery by an experienced rhinologist/ facial plastic surgeon so...
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Lee Kleiman, MD
Annapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
Annapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after Rhinoplasty may last 1 to 12 months
Post - Rhinoplasty nasal swelling lasts up to 1-12 months in some form. However, while you SHOULD STILL have nasal swelling 3 weeks after your surgery it should not be extreme. You may want to check with your surgeon.
+1
Swelling after rhinoplasty
Majority of the swelling goes away after a couple of months usually. It is totally normal to still have some swelling at three weeks. Some of the swelling will persist, and take about a year to gradually go away.
Stella Desyatnikova, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
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Swelling after Rhinoplasty
Most patients may have bruising and obvious welling for 1-3 weeks. After this, although swelling exists, it usually subsides enough so that the nose does not look as though it has been injured. Residual swelling may take as long as 6 month to totally subside. However, this is relatively subtle and usually of no great aesthetic concern. Bruising is more likely when the bones of the nose are repositioned to narrow its width.
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Lengh of swelling after rhinoplasty
The duration of swelling after is related to the magnitude of the surgery. The typical length is 12-18 months. Activity should be curtailed in the early weeks to minimize compounded swelling.
Rodger Wade Pielet, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after Rhinoplasty
Can last up to 1 years time. 3 weeks is very early in the scheme of things. Most patients achieve a nice result at about 6 months were there is minimal swelling but ultimately it will take 1 years time before all the swelling is gone.
Good luck and be patient.
Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
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Time is on your side but consider action
Hi Anonymous,
Yes, it is normal to have swollen nose at 3 weeks after surgery. However how swollen you are depends greatly on how much surgery you had done. If the procedure was done (open) or an external approach with an incision in the columella ( the skin between the nostrils) then it is likley you will be swollen for longer. Likely you will have a nice result it will just take longer for it to be apparent. If your procedure was done closed (incisions on the inside) then likley you will...
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Steven H. Dayan, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Very swollen at 3 weeks is not normal.
Hi! Maybe it is not as swollen as you think. It is hard to get used to a new nose.
Our patients go back to school or to work in one week, looking pretty normal with a little make up. I tell patients they can expect to see 90% of the result in one month (very little swelling), and that they may have to wait a full 6 months to see 100% of the result.
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