Swelling After Rhinoplasty

I had the surgery done two weeks ago and I am aware the swelling will last atleast a year. After the cast was taken off, I had tape on for a couple days. And I loved the way it looked. It could've been the tape contouring my nose but I still admired the shape everyday. It was slim, defined, and pretty. Now without the tape, it's really round and too big for my face. Without the swelling, will it really make a significant change? Will it ever look like before when I had the tape on?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by SerenaU in Jackson Heights, NY

Doctor Answers (9)
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Taping Noses After Surgery

The short answer to your question is yes, the swelling will go down and ultimately your nose should look very much like it did once the splint and tape were removed. Noses have poor lymphatic drainage, and therefore swelling hangs around a long time in noses as opposed to other parts of the body. I give all my patients 1/2" paper tape and have them tape their noses at home at nights and on weekends. Each surgeon has his or her own techniques for dealing with... more

Swelling after Rhinoplasty

The increased swelling you observed after your cast and tape were removed is temporary. Be patient and your nose will decrease in size and become more refined.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Did the tape make my nose thin after Rhinoplasty

The nose was thin because th cast is hard and stopped the nasal tissues from swelling after the Rhinoplasty. Once removed, the nasal tissue started to swell. The tape has no inherent tensile strength (like the cast) and as such is incapable of stopping swelling. I teach all of my Rhinoplasty patients how to perform daily manual lymphatic dtrainage to the nose starting at 1 month post Rhinoplasty which removes nasal swelling. You should ask your Rhinoplasty... more

Tape

The cast and then the tape that you had held in the swelling. Now that they are off the nose itself will swell to some degree. Be patient your nose will come back to a much more pleasing level.

David A. Bray, Sr., MD

6 reviews

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

drbray.com

Swelling after rhinoplasty

These are normal concerns and post op progress. It's going to look like it did when the cast first came off and when it was taped. It's hard but you have to be patient. .it's going to change a lot in the next 6 weeks and then continue in a more slow and subtle fashion. Looks like you are going to have a great result!

Michael L. Schwartz, MD

3 reviews

Fort Lauderdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Swelling After Rhinoplasty

Swelling after rhinoplasty is normal. The tape helps keep the skin of the nose from expanding from swelling, so after removal of the tape, increased swelling is expected. You can discuss with your surgeon about replacing the tape for another week or so. I often suggest to patients to keep the tape as long as they can. good Luck.

Swelling after Rhinoplasty...

Swelling after Rhinoplasty should be expected, and is normal. While the cast and tape is on, the swelling may be more limited, and it can certainly increase temporarily when the cast comes off. That should gradually decrease. You will start noticing a change in the shape of your nose right after surgery, but it may take a few weeks for some of the swelling to subside. After the surgery it could take several months to one year for all of the swelling to go down and to... more

Swelling After Rhinoplasty

Thanks for the great photos. These show very clearly what effect tape has on the appearance of the nose after rhinoplasty. As a rule, the taped appearance will more closely resemble the final appearance but it is possible to over-correct with the tape, rotating the nose higher or reducing the projection. You are correct that it will take 6-12 months for all the swelling to completely resolve but you should have a good idea of how the nose will look in 1 month. If... more

Swelling is normal!

I can't tell you how many times I have this same conversation with my patients following surgery. It is very normal and expected that your nose will swell following surgery. Each person varies and heals differently. Be patient, and the major swelling should be gone within a month or so. Over time, you will be able to see a more defined result.