How long is it normal to have swelling after rhinoplasty?

The amount of swelling and how long it persists after rhinoplasty depends on several factors such as the surgeon's technique, open versus closed approach, whether the nasal bones were broken, and the number of prior nasal surgeries.
Patients in whom open rhinoplasty techniques were used, cases in which the nasal bones were broken, and a history of one or more previous nasal surgeries often will have more prolonged swelling.
During the first week, most patients will have moderate swelling . Usually, by the end of the second week, much of the bruising and swelling have subsided to the point that it is not obvious to the casual observer that the patient has had surgery.
However, the nose will look swollen or puffy to the patient for 3 to 4 months. It usually takes a full year for the residual swelling to resolve and the final result be apparent.

This is a very common problem.  Generally, I leave a cast on the nose for one week after surgery.  This helps with swelling, but shortly after removing the cast, the nose usually swells.  By the end of the second week, the nose is starting to take some of it's permanent shape, but is hard for most to envision what it will look like long-term.  By the end of the 6th week, it is really getting close to the final look.  If the tip is swollen, you can inject it with a medication called Kenalog after the first month.  This medication helps speed the resolution of tip swelling and the results can occur quickly.  Small, more subtle changes to the shape of the nose can take months and months to resolve and get you to the final/permanent shape.  

Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery in Frisco, TX:
Swelling after rhinoplasty is completely normal — and it’s one of the longest parts of the healing process. While most patients see significant improvement in the first few weeks, some degree of swelling can last for several months to a full year.
Here’s a general breakdown:
⏳ First 1–2 Weeks: • The most noticeable swelling occurs during this time, along with bruising and congestion. • You’ll likely have a splint on the nose for the first 7 days.

Hello and thank you for your question. The swelling lasts a long time in certain patients. I always advise my patients that the final result takes at least 1.5 years for the swelling to fully resolve. Steroid injections performed by your surgeon can be extremely helpful after surgery. I start these as early as one month after surgery. I recommend that you maintain close follow up with your board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

The recovery process after a rhinoplasty looks different based on a number factors including extent of surgery, primary vs revision, patient skin thickness, etc. etc. That being said, in general it can take 12-18 months for swelling to fully resolve. A large portion of this is completed in the first few months after surgery, but patients will typically continue to see subtle improvements in the level of swelling over the subsequent year or so. Often this is most notable in the nasal tip as this area tends to hold on to swelling a bit longer than the rest of the nose. It can certainly be a concerning process for patients as they await for the swelling to fully resolve, but there are a few things that can sometimes help. Elevating the head of the bed or sleeping on several pillows can help by employing gravity to let the swelling travel "downhill". Intermittent use of ice packs wrapped in a towel can also help with some of the swelling. Even things like maintaining a healthy, low-sodium diet may prevent some of this fluid from sticking around. It is important to have a good relationship with your surgeon during this process who can evaluate you and determine if you have more swelling than average and whether any further intervention or recommendation may help this process.
Hope this helps and best of luck! Kyle Kimura, MD

Depending on the complexity of your operation, swelling may last up to 12 months, maybe even longer. This is especially the case for patients who have thick skin. However, most patients will see that the swelling will subside within 2 months.
I can't give you the exact answer for your case because I don't have your picture but the rule of thumb is generally after 3-4 months most patients feel comfortable with their new look. It can, however, take up to a year or longer for your nose to settle into its new shape, especially around the tip. Keep in mind that if your surgery is a revision rhinoplasty, it may even take longer. In your case, 3 weeks is too early for you to see the final result. Best wishes.

Hi there. The degree of swelling post op is highly variable. Factors increasing swelling include thick skin, long or complex surgery, but in most cases it just varies from patient to patient. The splint keeps a bit of the swelling down so it is normal to see a bit more swelling after the splint is removed (this can be treated by using the splint at night for at least 6 weeks after surgery). Generally about 70% has resolved by 6 weeks, but it can take a year or two for the rest to go.

Hello, thanks for the great question!
Swelling after rhinoplasty varies from patient to patient, and can also depend on the details of the procedure. For most patients, the bulk of the swelling and bruising subsides after the first 3 weeks. At this time, mot of my patients are socially presentable. That said, there will still be a degree of swelling, most notably at the tip, which slowly resolves over the course of 6 months to a year. Other factors associate with increase swelling include: skin thickness, whether or not the bones were broken, instrumentation used during the surgery, primary vs secondary/tertiary rhinoplasty, and grafting material used.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Dr. G
Dominick J Gadaleta, MDFacial Plastic SurgeonDG Facial Plastic SurgeryPalo Alto, CA

It takes one week to two weeks to start feeling some relief regarding the swelling after a rhinoplasty, but the swelling will be almost gone (80 to 90%) after one month of the surgery.  After 6 months is when you will notice the final result with all the refinements obtained if you took good care of your nose during that first critical month

Hi and thank you very much for your question. In most patients, 80% of swelling resolves during the first 2 months after surgery. The remaining 20% persists until about a year and sometimes a little longer depending on the patient.  The swelling takes the longest to subside in the nasal tip and longer when using an external approach, when the nasal bones are broken, revision surgeries and in patients with thicker skin. I recommend you consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon as they will discuss possible treatment plans with you and go over any questions you have. I hope this helped. Best wishes.

hi and thank you for your question which is commonly asked by patients especially those with thicker nasal tip skin who as a result take much longer to settle. I normally advise that 80% of the swelling will resolve by 6-8weeks but rest may take up to 2 years for the nose to be fully settled.