I Am 8 Months Post Op - Should I Be This Swollen (I Have Thick Skin!)?

Patients with thick skin tend to have more swelling than patients who do not have thick skin. The final result of rhinoplasty is not typically evident for 18-24 months following surgery. 70% of the swelling resolves after the first 3 months and the remainder goes down over time. Swelling can be influenced by the thickness of the patient's skin, whether the procedure was a revision, whether the procedure was open or closed, and whether or not tip work was performed. It is important to be patient during the healing process, as it can take some time. It is not abnormal to still have swelling after 8 months, especially if you have thick skin. From here, I would recommend seeing how you continue to heal and take the advice provided by your surgeon. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

It would be helpful to provide some photos for review. The reality is that thicker skin can be more problematic and challenging when it comes to rhinoplasty healing. In many cases, a series of steroid injections can help mold the healing process.

    As crazy as it sounds, 4 months may make quite a difference.   The tip is always the last area to improve.  Yes, thick skin takes longer.  Steroid injections carry risks as well.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA