Now 10 Weeks Post Op Rhinoplasty, Very Unhappy. What To Do?

Question

i had my open rhinoplasty 10weeks ago and i hate it. the nose is short,upturned,pointy tip,uneven nostrils, nose too narrowed which im sure is causing my breathing difficulties and looks so unnatural and fake considering i only asked for my nostrils to be taken in. the nose does not suit my face and nose bridge no definition my surgeon says this is all swelling i doubt it think he messed up.

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

Overall your nose doesn't really look bad. But not knowing what your nose looked like originally and what you wanted for surgery makes it difficult to comment. There's nothing to be done now anyway. I would not recommend any revision until at least 9 months after surgery and preferably a year. Believe it or not it actually does take that long for the swelling to get out of the nose. Have a "sit down" with your surgeon and discuss calmly. Good luck.

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello nat jackson,

	Thanks for your question.  At 10 weeks after an open rhinoplasty, the nasal tip will continue to be stiff, swollen, and often numb to the touch.  This is a very common problem.  It can take up to a year for the nasal tip to soften and finish shaping.  You are around two years postop now so hopefully the tip has shaped the way you wanted it to.  If not I would seek the consult of a expert in revision rhinoplasty to address your concerns.  There are multiple ways to increase the definition of the nose, but you must make sure you understand all the pros and cons of the various options.

	Good luck,

	Dr. Shah

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

I read your concerns and reviewed your photos:

	You have a pleasing nasal appearance on profile-view. Your tip does not appear to be over-rotated, but it may drop a bit over the next several months.

	I see you have nostril asymmetry on front-view. This may in fact improve as your swelling resolves.

	In my view, you do not appear to have a "horrible" rhinoplasty result. You may benefit from getting a second opinion from another experienced, reputable, rhinoplasty specialist to see what would be best for you.

	I hope this is helpful for you.

Raja Mohan, MD · Answer

African American rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that reshapes the nose to improve its appearance and function while preserving the patient's ethnic features. It's also known as an ethnic rhinoplasty, a term used by many plastic surgeons to describe nose surgeries for non-European patients. The goal of African American rhinoplasty is to achieve a natural-looking result that complements the patient's other facial features. It can address a variety of concerns, such as:A wide nasal bridgeFlared nostrilsA deviated septumThe size, shape, or function of the nose The type of technique used depends on the patient's goals and specific characteristics. Some common techniques include:Alarplasty: Narrows the nostrils by removing soft tissueDorsum surgery: Narrows the cartilage and bone that runs down the nasal bridgeTip rhinoplasty: Reshapes, refines, or lifts the nasal tip Patients who are good candidates for African American rhinoplasty are usually in good health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations.

Jon F. Harrell, DO, FACS · Answer

I would urge patience on your part. Although I sense a large amount of disappointment in your posting question your nose does not look objectively that bad. You most definitely have swelling in your nose and it will take about six months to get where the nose is perhaps 90% healed, with most of the swelling resolved. At that point your concerns, if you still have them, can be addressed. Much of what may have happened is a difference between what you wanted or expected and what your surgeon thought he/she could actually improve. It seems like the surgery went further than what you wanted. That is an issue to take up with your surgeon. Again, be patient, and you will likely find the results fall more in line with what you were expecting Best of Luck Dr Jon Harrell

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD · Answer

I agree with most comments...10 weeks is too early to make any judgment and your nose certainly looks reasonable at this stage.

	Wait at least 6-12 months before making a final decision.

David A. Bray, Sr., MD · Answer

Your nose looks quite good to me at this point. You need to talk calmly to your surgeon and definitely let more time go by

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

At 10 weeks it is still early yet to determine what the final appearance will be. With this said, did you discuss fully with your sugeon the changes that you wanted as well as what you did not like. From the early photos that you provided, the results do look good but perhaps this is not what you desired.

	You should share your concerns and disappointments with your surgeon at this point in time and then obtain his/her input. Regardless, you probably should wait around 1 year before pursuing a revision is so desired.

Joseph Campanelli, MD · Answer

First off, I agree with you.  This is not a problem with swelling.  There are some definite issues with your nose that are not going to improve with time.  What appears has happened is that your surgeon in an effort to make your nasal tip thinner, pulled the cartilage of the tip on the left too much, deforming the nostril.  As the persistant swelling resolves over the next 3 months, this should get worse, not better.  This is the reason that your nose looks upturned.  The actual rotation (viewed from the side)  looks good at about 90 degrees.

	Unfortunately, you will likely need a revision procedure.  In the best of circumstances, all that will be involved is cutting the stitch that is deforming the nose but it could be more substantial.  Talk with your surgeon about this.  The very earliest that you would want to do anything major is 6-9 months, but if it is just a stitch, it could be addressed now.

Michael L. Schwartz, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you are so unhappy. Your result looks good at this time. Sometimes the facial change is hard to integrate early on. Other times it does not match what you expected. I would recommend being very patient and allow complete healing to occur over the next 9-12 months. If you are still unhappy then see your surgeon and see what some conservative computer imaging changes might do for you.

Now 10 Weeks Post Op Rhinoplasty, Very Unhappy. What To Do?

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