2 Months Post-Op Rhinoplasty and Swelling

After rhinoplasty, tip shape is typically the last thing to settle before seeing the final result; this can take 12 months or longer. During this time you will notice that the size of your tip decreases as swelling resolves and subtle details and tip definition appear. At 2 months following rhinoplasty, you are still very early in your recovery. With regards to your concerns about the size of your nasal tip, it is just too early to draw any conclusions-but certainly you still have a lot of swelling which is normal. Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. It can take somewhere in and around 12-18 months to see the final results. The areas with thicker skin in the nose such as the tip, alar rims and radix will require longer to settle. Also there appears to be a linear decrease in swelling for the first several months followed by a period where the swelling fluctuates (sometimes little or no swelling and other times more swelling) before the nose settles. It's hard but important to stay patient during your recovery and to be diligent attending your follow-up appointments with your surgeon.

In my experience, thick skin patients sometimes appear swollen for longer during this recovery. The tip itself is the slowest part to settle and heal completely, so it can easily take 6 months to a 1 year before your final result is reached. Sorry to hear that things don't look the way you want, but it may still get there in the next year! stay positive!
-Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group

It’s not unusual for patients undergoing rhinoplasty to have prolonged swelling.  Several factors, including the use of open rhinoplasty, fracture of the nasal bones, thickness of the nasal skin and a previous rhinoplasty have been associated with prolonged swelling.
            Most patients will note significant swelling for about two weeks following surgery.  After two weeks, most patients are comfortable resuming their normal lives and going out in public.

            Swelling will persist in most patients for at least one year following surgery, with the nasal tip being the last site to experience resolution.  In the immediate post-operative period, nasal splints, elevation of the head, and ice can be used to minimize swelling.