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

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.

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

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.

 

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.

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