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Nose Tip Upturned After Rhinoplasty

asked 3 years ago by vladimer in tel-aviv, israel
Latest answer by Etai Funk, MD
Question viewed 28,329 times
Tags: nose

I had Rhinoplasty several days ago. When I saw my nose at the mirror recently, I noticed, that the tip of my nose is lifted high, which does not look natural. The doctor told me that it's going to return into a more natural form after a while. Will it really change and go down? If so, when can I expect it to happen?

26 answers to Nose Tip Upturned After Rhinoplasty

The tip will drop in most cases

In most cases, the tip will drop, however the degree to which it does so relies on a number of variables, including your specific anatomy before the procedure, the goals of the procedure, the techniques used to modify the tip (sutures, cartilage grafts, etc) and ultimately your body's healing capabilities. In general, I urge all patients who have had a rhinoplasty to be patient with the initial appearance, as it very often looks too swollen and the tip may indeed look too upturned. With... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.drsalemy.com

This is probably a good thing!

Hi! This is not swelling but probably an intentional overcorrection by your surgeon. The tip will almost certainly come down. You should see almost the final result in about 3 months.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Expect some correction of your Rhinoplasty results with time

Many rhinoplasty patients request an improvement in tip rotation. Many surgeons will tape the nose and support the tip if tip rotation modifications were performed. This taping may exaggerate the tip rotation several days after surgery. Often, after swelling subsides, some degree of drop will occur. Be patient. You and your surgeon can follow how your nose heals and you will likely see the results you want after a few months.

Corey S. Maas, MD
San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tip rotation after rhinoplasty

Tip rotation after rhinoplasty is very common and generally drops over the period of six to 8 weeks. Most rhinoplasty surgeons will slightly over elevate a nose because it is expected to drop some during the healing process as the nose settles and the swelling subsides. Patience is typically the best approach at this time. However, if it is still too high after that time you should address that with your surgeon. Sometimes taping can also help to bring it down to a slightly lower... more

Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

Yes your upturned nose will likely drop

I can reassure you and tell you from personal experience that this will go down. Patient's often relate that initial concern that when they look in the mirror, all they see is their nostrils and they feel that they have a snout but this is quite normal and is a reaction to seeing your nasal changes for the first tme. Of course, it is difficult to say without a picture and without knowing the details of your specific procedure but generally you will see a vast improvement within 3 weeks after... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tip taping can help.

Hi Vladime, When you release the soft tissues of the nose during rhinoplasty, they slide up a little as you have noticed. With time and gravity, they will come back down a little. With your surgeon's permission, you can start tip taping techniques to help the process along. As the swelling comes out of the tip skin, it deflates and sags down making it drop. Most rhinoplasties take up to 12 months to heal so you should notice change gradually over time. Good luck. Dr. Shah more

Manish H. Shah, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Days are not enough time to see rhinoplasty result

Rhinoplasty is one of the operations in plastic surgery that suffers the most from postoperative swelling. Particularly when there has been changes made to the tip of the nose, the body's first response to the operation is to send increased amounts of blood and fluid to the area to bring in the cells that mediate healing. This can last for a few weeks, and it is worst in the first week or two after surgery. I tell all of my rhinoplasty patients that it will take at least 3 weeks for the... more

Adam David Lowenstein, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty Facts: Early results are not an indication of long term outcome

Rhinoplasty procedures may cause considerable swelling and edema. This may disguise the actual shape of the nose in the immediate postoperative period. Nasal shape is defined by the underlying structural support as well as the overlying skin. In most cases after rhinoplasty, the edema obfuscates the long term structure of the nose. Be patient in the early period and allow the swelling to subside. This may take 6 to 9 months.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Time is your friend after rhinoplasty

Swelling at this stage in your post-operative progress is likely masking your final result. At day 2 and 3 your swelling may be at a peak. Time will help. In my practice we also recommend head elevation for the first week. Splinting and taping can also help keep swelling and edema to a minimum. Most patients should see significant reduction in swelling and edema at 3-4 weeks with the final shape being more apparent at about 6 weeks however there can be residual edema for 6 months. Try to... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Your doctor is correct, the tip will drop

Your doctor is correct. The tip of your nose will drop, but it will take several weeks to do so. The initial swelling and taping will contribute to the temporary elevation of the tip. Even if the purpose of the rhinolplasty was to elevate the tip, there is always some settling downward.

Foad Nahai, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Early after Rhinoplasty the Nasal Tip can look over upturned

After rhinoplasty, with normal swelling, soon after the casting material and tape is removed, the tip can look too upturned. As the swelling subsides the tip will drop significantly. Give it the time it deserves and realize healing from a rhinoplasty is a process that takes many months not days or a few weeks.

Andrew Jacono, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tip will return to normal after 6 weeks

Depending upon the tip techniques that were performed at the time of the surgery, the tip will most certainly drop after the surgery. The tip always looks turned up in the first couple of weeks after a Rhinoplasty due to swelling and will usually drop back to its normal position within two to six weeks. There is also further settling and healing that can occur over the next year. A year should be allowed for full healing to occur.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Rhionplasty and the tip

It is too early to tell what the final result will be. Often after rhinoplasty, especially with tape, the tip appears elevated more than usual. Usually this settles down as the swelling subsides. Be patient before you jump to conclusions.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

A few weeks to a few months.

The initial swelling usually allows the tip to drop in a few weeks to a few months. The tip swelling may last up to a year. Having said that, I don't think your nose will drop enough to satisfy you, but I could be wrong. Wait 3 months from the time of surgery and see a revision rhinoplasty surgeon who can show you good before/after photos of his revisions of shrt noses and speak with his patients.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nasal tip upturned after nose job or rhinoplasty

It is quite common that the nasal tip will be turned up after rhinoplasty or nose job. This is usually due to swelling and the tape. The tip should settle into place and come down to a natural position at about 3 weeks.

Etai Funk, MD
Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.funkfacialplastics.com

Early Post Operative Rhinoplasty Appearance

It is not uncommon after a rhinoplasty to notice the nasal tip turned up slightly. This is normal especially early post operatively from swelling. One can experience swelling, bruising, and the tip may be turned up somewhat early post-op. I would not be too concerned about it unless it persists for more than 4-6 weeks.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Nasal tip rotated after rhinoplasty

After rhinoplasty the tip will often lift up as a result of the swelling. This takes a few weeks to settle down. The exact time frame depends on the specific surgical techniques used.

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty changes following surgery.

It is not uncommon to see changes secondary to edema (swelling) following rhinoplasty. Sometimes steroids may be useful during the acute postoperative period to reduce these changes. If the change you notice now still is of concern over the next 6 months, then it may be appropriate to review this with your surgeon. However, it is likely to improve on its own without any necessary intervention.

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD
Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.351face.com

Time, time, time.

Although very difficult, waiting for your new nose to emerge after rhinoplasty is necessary. The swelling, bruising, asymmetries, nostril irregularities, tip position, skin changes, size, etc.... all will change over the first 12 months. Wait for the nose to "relax" a few weeks before becoming concerned. Stop looking in the mirror. Probably 80% of rhinoplasty healing is complete by 3 months. This will be a better time to start judging your res more

Randolph Capone, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.baltimorefaces.com

Early Rhinoplasty Results

Early rhinoplasty results are difficult to assess. Give the nose a few weeks and then a better evaluation of how your rhinoplasty results are can be performed.

Anil R. Shah, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tip up after rhinoplasty

You mentioned that your surgery was just 3 days ago and that's WAY too early to evaluate the result. Often the tip is turned up right after the surgery from normal swelling. Try to relax, and contact your surgeon.

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Upturned tip

Many elements of your result will evolve over the next several weeks and months. Try not to read too much into these early appearances of your nose. Patience is your best medicine at this point. Best, Tal Raine MD

Talmage J. Raine, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Turned up tip after rhinoplasty

It is rather common for the nasal tip to appear a bit turned even after the nasal bandage comes off. Most of the settling will occur in a few weeks. Nasal tip control during rhinoplasty is paramount, but easily achieved. In cases with poor tip support one can see post-operative droop, in cases with too much tip cartilage removed in a wrong place the tip can permanently turn up. Only a skilled and experienced nasal surgeon can achieve good tip control. I'm... more

Boris M. Ackerman, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

Nose tip will come down

Hi Vladimer, Dont worry too much. This is rather common. By two weeks, it should come down quite a bit. Ask your surgeon if he or she thinks taping it down would be helpful. Good luck.

Steven H. Dayan, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Too soon to tell

Never judge a nose by the way it looks in the first few weeks after surgery. Often, the nose goes through changes for 6 months to a year and a half after surgery. However, I am concerned that the tip usually moves in the opposite direction after surgery. It usually moves upward as the swelling subsides. In any case, be patient.

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tip swelling is normal right after rhinoplasty

The nose begins to swell right after rhinoplasty and reaches a peak after about three to four days. Swelling occurs over the bridge of the nose as well, however the tip is the "mobile" part of the nose and can swell upward or appear to turn. The taping and splinting your doctor applied will guide and control the swelling and as the swelling goes down the splint begins to loosen and the tip drop, usually at about one week. Your nose should look pretty good at a week and continue to... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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