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.

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.

There are many factors that influence swelling: the type of procedure, whether it was a primary or revisionary surgery, and most tellingly, *who* performed the surgery. Interestingly, no two surgeons perform surgery in exactly the same way! In my practice, there is a saying, “The harder it is on the surgeon, the easier it is on the patient.” In other words, if the surgery is done slowly and carefully (more work for the surgeon), the quicker the healing time (the easier on the patient). As a specialist in rhinoplasty surgery, most of my patients are able to blend in public without distracting swelling as soon as the splint is removed, which is 7-10 postoperative. The tip is the area that shows swelling for the longest period of time: much as the foot swells if the ankle is injured due to gravity, the tip of your nose will retain swelling the longest. The literature states that patients can retain swelling for up to one year, but swelling can be charted like a bell curve, with small percentages of swelling happing in the last stages of healing. My staff and I always have detailed conversations with my patients about swelling to help make the process as easy and comfortable as possible, so I suggest speak with your plastic surgeon to see his or her thoughts. In my practice, I also offer lymphatic massage to help facilitate reduction of the swelling via the lymphatic channels. I recommend following up with your original surgeon on a regular basis to ensure that you are healing properly.