When Did Swelling Go Down After Your Rhinoplasty Surgery?

2 weeks after Rhinoplasty is still the infancy of healing. So, try to be optimistic and patient at this stage of the game.

Several things should be remembered while you are awaiting your long term (and enduring) result.

The cast and tape is placed to reduce rhinoplasty swelling over the first week. It does this by holding the tissues down tightly to the underlying cartilage and bone. As such, there is often a little swelling that comes out after it is removed.

Besides the cast issue, most rhinoplasty is reductive in nature, meaning that the height of the nose is reduced. When looking from the front, this can often give the impression of widening or a persistent bump in the early post operative period. Here's why:

• The perception of nasal width from frontal view has to do with the interplay of shadow, highlight, and shadow as one moves across the nose.
• The places where bone is broken in many reductive rhinoplasties is the side of the nasal bones below the eyes and the central portion of the nose where a hump is removed.
• Bones heal by initially forming what is called a callus, which stabilizes the 2 adjacent segments across a break. This callus is thicker than the final bone that will be there after healing is complete.
• Callus gets replaced by normal bone over the first few months after surgery.
• Therefore, it will take more time for shadows to reappear along the side of the nose than for other swelling to go down. This diminishes the contrast between the top of the nose and the shadow, creating the perception of widening. This will improve over time.
• The area where your bump was is also healing in the same manner, so be patient. It will flatten with time.

Finally, depending on your skin thickness, the nasal tip may take longer for the skin to redrape and assume a narrower configuration.

The saying "patience is a virtue" could not be more true then in this instance. Two weeks is extremely premature to determine any post operative rhinoplasty result. It is very common to have swelling after the splint comes off however, the aesthetic appearance of the nose immediately following splint removal is more indicative of your final result. The swelling will dissipate with time and continue to improve daily. I hope this gives you some peace of mind and rest assured time heals most wounds!

Web reference: http://www.michaelelammd.com

Bruising and swelling are a normal part of rhinoplasty recovery. They are dependent on several factors related to both the surgical technique and the patient. Techniques that increase bruising and swelling include whether or not the nasal bones were broken (osteotomies), the extent of soft tissue dissection/elevation from the bony-cartilaginous framework, and whether the surgery was performed open or closed.

Swelling after rhinoplasty resolves at variable rates. For the initial two weeks, the nose is markedly swollen and noticable to anyone. After the second week, the swelling usually subsides such that it is not obvious to the casual observer that anything has been done to the nose; however, the nose will look "puffy" to the patient for several months. Usually by 4 months, the vast majority of the swelling will dissipate, but it may take a full year (or longer in some cases) for all of the swelling to resolve.

When surgeons rasp (file down) a hump on the bridge of the nose, it will typically remain swollen for several weeks afterward. Your surgeon should be able to tell you whether or not the amount of swelling is normal.

Immediately after the splint or cast is removed, it is common for the nose to look more defined. After the compression has been removed, the skin and soft tissues can swell and this can take weeks to months to significantly improve. 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. Additionally, you may notice that your tip derotates and deprojects.

At 2 weeks following rhinoplasty, you are still very early in your recovery. Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. Around the 4-6 week mark, most patients are able to appreciate most of the changes from surgery as a significant amount of swelling has resolved. However, 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. After a dorsal hump has been removed, there can also be slight fullness at the keystone area (transition between nasal bones above and upper lateral cartilages below) due to swelling and inflammation. This usually settles but can be helped by digital massage of the area to help breakdown scar tissue and encourage edema to resolve-you should ask your surgeon if this is something that you should do.

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. Again, after 4-6 weeks, although you will continue to notice changes in your nose, they are subtle and imperceptible to most other people. It's hard but important to stay patient during your recovery and to be diligent attending your follow-up appointments with your surgeon.

 Since it has only been 2 weeks since your rhinoplasty surgery, there is  still a fair amount of swelling that exists in the nose, especially the tip. It takes at 1-2 months for approximately 70-80% of the swelling to subside from the nose and a year for full healing. Surgical techniques performed, skin type and pre-existing anatomy will all determine the length of time the swelling takes to subside.
Blenderm  Tape applied across the nasal bridge at night between the first 1-6 months will help with the swelling. Additionally cortisone shots the postoperative visits in the first 6 months, also help with fluid retention in the supratip portion of the nose

Web reference: http://www.seattlefacial.com/photogallery/rhinoplasty_photos24.html

Patience is a virtue. Swelling over the bones is usually gone in 6 weeks.  Swelling over the tip and the area just above the tip (supratip and midvault) can take 12-18 months to clear.  Depending on the thickness of your skin and the amount of surgery done to your nose, swelling can actually get worse once the splint comes off.   Please consult with your surgeon if you have any other questions.

Nobody has ever had a final result 2 week after rhinoplasty. Your lack of experience with this surgery also makes your evaluation difficult at this time. Share you concerns with the surgeon you choose to operate on your face. Don't second guess that individual now. You will see a lot of improvement during the next few weeks.

Your story is typical and expected after rhinoplasty.  When the splint is removed the nose looks thin, but then swelling sets in.  It varies considerably how long the swelling takes to resolve, but it will continue to go down for several months and takes patience to appreciate the final result.

Generally speaking, it can take 6 to 12 months to completely heal after surgery. Please keep in touch with your surgeon or his/her clinical team to discuss your ongoing concerns.

Web reference: http://www.drclevens.com/face/rhinoplasty.htm

The swelling and bruising related to the rhinoplasty involves the nose, the upper and the lower eyelids. Theses will get worse withing the first 48 hours and start getting better.The swelling and bruising around the eyes go away mostly within the first week to 10 days. The nose swelling will, to great deal, go away withing this time as well. However, there will some minor swelling that will come and go up a year, specially in the mornings, during the menstrual periods and after salty foods. Avoiding salty foods is very helpful during this healing period. As the time goes by, this fluctuation in swelling will become less and less. On rare occasions there is bruising of the white portion of the eyeball that will disappear in 3-4 weeks. Uncommon dense bruising of the lower eyelids may last 3-4 weeks. Use of vitamin K and Arnica cream may help faster resolution of  bruising. These can be purchased from the herbal stores without a prescription.

Web reference: http://drbahmanguyuron.com/