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Rhinoplasty Results Don't Match Projected Outcome Photo

I had rhinoplasty, cheek implants, and blepharoplasty 12 days ago. I had a hump on my nose and the bridge was too wide. Also, my nose was too long and kind went downward at the tip when I smiled. I had a deviated septum also, so that was fixed, which was the main reason to even see the doctor and the rest followed.

I'm so scared b/c my nose looks terrible! It's still long and wide at the bridge, and I still have a hump on my nose.

From the side profile I can tell somewhat of a difference, but it doesn't look like the Photoshop picture he showed before the surgery. Is this normal??

I was always told how beautiful I was all the time before surgery now I'm scared I made myself ugly and wasted $12,000!!!

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nose deviated septum

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by izzy2008 in simi, united states

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (0)

Too early, so don't worry!

At twelve days postop with you will be very swollen, especially because you had eyelid and cheek surgery in addition to your nose surgery. Ask you surgeon about a postop taping regimen to help bring the swelling down. It takes nearly a year to get the final results from a nose surgery so be very patient. Because you already see some difference, you will probably see quite a difference at one year. While you are healing you should not have expectations of a certain outcome. And, remember... more

Rhinoplasty and Photoshop results

Hopefully when the swelling subsides the nose will reflect more of what you had wanted. 12 days after surgery is way too early to judge results! That being said, doctors are usually careful to use Photoshop type aids as a platform to discuss the surgery, not as a guaranteed outcome. There is usually a written disclosure on the picture itself saying this. If a physician guaranteed a patient would look exactly like the photograph, and you don't, this would be an issue. Especially with... more

Changes in the nose after rhinoplasty

It is far too early to judge your nose at 12 days out from a rhinoplasty. I usually advise my patients that 10-12 days is around the time they can return to work or social situations if they would like to get away with others not knowing they have had surgery. However, your nose will continue to improve and become more refined gradually over the next 12-18 months. Give it some time before you compare your nose to the preoperative imaging.

Rhinoplasty and Photoshop/ Computer Imaging

Hi Izzy, It is too early to make any judgments about your nose, and there is not anything to do about it for a few months. You need to share your concerns with your nasal surgeon and listen to his/her comments. Usually after 12 days one has somewhat of an idea of what you may look like, but there will still be a great deal of healing to come. Photoshop is only as useful as the surgeon who uses the computer imaging. When computer imaging, the surgeon must make changes only to the point... more

Michael A. Persky, MD

21 reviews

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

drpersky.com

Early Rhinoplasty Concerns are Usually Not Real

12 days after a rhinoplasty where tip and profile alteration were done is WAY too early to be concerned. Generally, the rule of thumb is 7-10 days for social acceptability, 1 month until 80% of swelling will be gone, and 9-12 months until 90-100% will be gone. Those numbers may vary a little based on what was done and your skin type. Thicker skin takes longer to heal and redrape aroung the new nasal form. Asking a doctor to see not only before and after photos but also projections on... more

Rhinoplasty and computer imaging

I am not a big fan of computer imaging and therefore do not use it in my office. Although it can give a suggestion of the final result, the computer does not tak into account the underlying nasal architecture. That be said, since it is only 12 days out after surgery, you have to give it some time for the swelling and bruising to subside. Sometimes there is residual swelling for up to 1 year. Be patient.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

It is early

It is very early after your procedure. Often swelling will distort the results of your procedure. I would go see your surgeon and address your specific concerns. Photoshop projections of what you "may" look like after a procedure are never exact as they are computer generated "ideals." Go see your surgeon and get your concerns addressed....

Best to wait and be patient

At only 12 days postop it is common to be unsure about your result. However, you are not anywhere close to seeing the final result of your surgery. It will take 3-4 months to see about 90% of the result but more than a year to see the final result. Assuming you chose an excellent doctor, you should work closely with them, express your concerns, and be very patient.

Early Swelling After A Rhinoplasty

Too early to tell results. Give your nose some time to see how it looks once the swelling settles down.

Too early to tell

First, it is way too early to judge the end result of your rhinoplasty. Wait several months before beginning to asses the result. Secondly, a photo-shopped photo is just that; a photo-shopped photo. It is a great means of discussing possible results but should never be taken to be a guaranteed result. It is a computer program and not flesh and blood. Best, Tal Raine MD

Talmage J. Raine, MD

5 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Healing time after rhinoplasty and cheek implants

Any time you have a rhinoplasty and cheek implant procedure you can have a severe amount of swelling because both procedures cause swelling of the cheeks and around the eyes which can make the bridge of your nose look wider. You are very early out from surgery and need to patient. Go back to your surgeon and express your concerns with him. But don't forget it can take 1 year to see your final result. Best of luck.

Rhinoplasty Results

Results after rhinoplasty surgery take some time to appear normal. The soft tissue sweling often imprairs the ability to see the results of the surgery in the first one or two weeks. Allow several weeks for the swelling to subside and maintain a close relationship with your surgeon to determine the next course of action if you are still unhappy with the nasal profile.

Give your Rhinoplasty some more time

After 12 days, I'm sure you still have significant swelling, so you can't tell what the final result is. You have to give it a few months. The computer is a very powerful tool and can make dramatic changes to a nose that sometimes cannot be duplicated in real life. We always try to approximate an imaging result, but sometimes the skin is too thick, or the cartilage and/or bone needs more support, so we can't duplicate the computer result exactly. Be sure to address your concerns with your... more

Your emotional response is normal!

Many patients have an uncertain helpless feeling after the surgery when they look at themselves in the mirror. It takes time to see the final results. Even I sometimes get disappointed when performing a procedure and do not see the final results in days as opposed to months - which is more reasonable.

I'm glad it worked out

Izzy, It's great that you discussed things with your surgeon and he/she was able to allay your fears. You've got a long course of healing to go, so have faith in your surgeon and if you have further concerns call and ask about them. I'm sure your surgeon will be more that happy to explain what is happening. Good luck!