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Does Scar Tissue Softening Go Hand In Hand With a Decrease In Swelling?

asked 10 months ago by 3802anon in Texas
Latest answer by Peter E. Johnson, MD
Question viewed 334 times
Tags: 10 months post-op, scar tissue, softer, swelling

I had my primary Rhinoplasty 10 months ago and my tip is still pretty hard/firm and swollen looking. I've heard that swelling will subside and scar tissue will eventually soften. Does that mean that I still have hope that as my nose softens, it will also diminish in size? I'm considering a revsion after a yr. and was wondering if I should wait even longer until my nose tip softens. I have a septal graft in between my medial footplates and sutures in my tip. My doctor says it will all soften.

3 answers to Does Scar Tissue Softening Go Hand In Hand With a Decrease In Swelling?

+2

Softening after rhinoplasty

Swelling and tissue inflammation with scar are often interchanged in rhinoplasty. Actually the swelling will subside after several weeks. The tissue remains firm as scar is laid during the healing process and will be slightly thickened. Over time the scar matures and thins and the nose will get ever so slightly smaller and most importantly gain definition. This 'biologic clock' for scar maturation runs about a year, so we tend to avoid revision until the time is up. For some the... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Nasal swelling after rhinoplasty

In general, hardness of the nasal tip is indicative of residual swelling. If you still have hardness of the nasal tip one year postoperatively, it may be advisable to delay surgery even more to allow all of the residual swelling to disappear. Hope this helps - best of luck.
Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Softening and swelling

Open rhinoplasty with grafts and sutures often creates a firm and hard tip which softens slowly and over a long time. Yours should continue to do better and I wouldn't rush into getting a revision. It can take up to 18 months for the tip to feel soft and pliable. If it doesn't and remains hard due to scar tissue getting a revision may only create more and increase the problem.
Michael L. Schwartz, MD

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

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