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How Long Does Tip Swelling and Hardness Last?

asked 1 year ago by Beaumont3293 in Beaumont
Latest answer by Michael R. Macdonald, MD
Question viewed 2,215 times
Tags: hard, swelling, tip

I had an open primary rhinoplasty four months ago to refine my tip (ps used sutures and strut graft) but it doesn't look any smaller than before. It's big, hard and even overprojected looking. My doctor said if its hard then it's still swollen. Will it eventually soften up and decrease in size? Or, should I consider a revision after it's done healing? It's hard to beleive that my tip is 40% still swollen.

13 answers to How Long Does Tip Swelling and Hardness Last?

Tip swelling and hardness after rhinoplasty.

Tip swelling and hardness after rhinoplasty lasts 12 months. Each nose is different and it takes that much time--no revision until then.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Generally, healing following nasal surgery takes as long as 12-18 months.

Generally, healing following nasal surgery takes as long as 12-18 months. After it is completely healed, the nose will feel soft and quite natural. Because of this, if the tip feels “hard” still, it is likely still swollen with healing that is ongoing. It will definitely soften up to feel more natural, ultimately, and will very likely decrease in size. Occasionally, injections of Triancinalone into the soft tissue of the tip will help speed up the... more

Michael R. Macdonald, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drmmacdonald.com

Tip swelling after rhinoplasty

Tip swelling is very common and expected after rhinoplasty. I explain to my patients before surgery that they should expect 75% of the swelling to come down the first month, 85% by 3 months, and the remaining 15% should persist for a full year. Of course, everyone is different and depending on the amount of work and grafts placed into the tip, one can have swelling and hardness for a prolonged period of time. Tip swelling and hardness can be associated, however,... more

Mike Majmundar, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

Swelling following tip rhinoplasty

It is common to have significant tip swelling following open rhinoplasty with grafting. The firmness you describe suggests that there is still substantial swelling present in your nasal tip. I would usually expect that swelling would have decreased by four months post-op but you may have some swelling or the tip for up to 18 months. You may want to visit your surgeon to evaluate whether steroid injections or similar techniques may hasten resolution.

Mark Beaty, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tip swelling and firmness

Depending on the degree of tip work done and how aggressive the surgeon was, I would expect tip swelling and firmness for 6-12 months. After that things should be getting back to normal

Richard Galitz, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

Length of Tip Swelling after Rhinoplasty

If your tip is firm, it is swollen - this will change as healing progresses. Wait at least one year before considering a revision.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Open rhinoplasty and swelling

In general, the tip of the nose will take more time for the swelling to resolve. Swelling is part of the body's mechanism of healing, and essentially it is water in the tissues (much like a full sponge). Because the tip is at the lowest part of the nose, water will preferentially "roll downhill." An open rhinoplasty adds incisions that disconnect the normal drainage, thus requiring a longer time for the swelling to resolve. This varies with... more

Ricardo Izquierdo, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.FaceAndBodyChicago.com

Tip swelling

After a rhinoplasty it is normal to stay swollen and the tip stay hard sometimes as long as a year after the procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Persistent Tip Swelling after Rhinoplasty

Hi Beaumont3293, Tip swelling and firmness can take a full year to resolve, especially with an external rhinoplasty. A lot of other factors come into play in terms of how long the swelling lasts, including the type of skin you have, your particular anatomy and any medications you may be taking. As long as the tip is not red/discolored or painful, I would be patient with the results and give it 12 months before you consider any revision procedures. You should discuss your concerns with... more

Sarmela Sunder, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tip Sweliing After Rhinoplasty

Dear Beaumont3293 , Tip swelling after rhinoplasty can up to a year and even longer in those with thick nasal tip skin. Occasionally steroid injections can be helpful. The tip will soften more over time. Be patient and periodically visit with your surgeon so he/she can monitor your progress. Sincerely, Tom Kaniff

Thomas E. Kaniff, MD
Sacramento Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialcosmeticsurg.com

Tip Swelling

Depending on how thick your skin is, tip swelling after rhinoplasty can last more than 16 months. I have treated patients on African, Latin, and Asian decent who required steroid injections into the tip of their nose to make the swelling go down faster. Bottom line, I would not panic, give everything time. If you surgeon is comfortable and feels it is in your best interest, you may consider a very small dose steroid injection if the swelling is severe. I... more

Julius W. Few, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

How Long Does Tip Swelling and Hardness Last?

Open incision rhinoplasty has tip swelling for up to a year. After that you can consider revision. Best of luck from MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tip swelling and firmness after rhinoplasty

I too feel it is unlikely that your tip is swollen by 40% four months after an open rhinoplasty, however it is important to wait the full six to twelve months necessary for full healing and softness to return. In this way you can be certain that the tip is stable and revision can be planned with more certainty. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd