Is it normal for the swelling to come and go have the Rhinoplasty? I am 3 1/2 weeks post surgery.

Question

The nostrils are drooping and the bridge of my nose is swollen again.

Jamil Ahmad, MD · Answer

Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. It can take somewhere in and around 12-18 months to see the final results. The areas with thicker skin in the nose such as the tip, alar rims and radix will require longer to settle. Also there appears to be a linear decrease in swelling for the first several months followed by a period where the swelling fluctuates (sometimes little or no swelling and other times more swelling) before the nose settles. It's hard but important to stay patient during your recovery and to be diligent attending your follow-up appointments with your surgeon. You are still very early in your recovery and this will likely settle with time.

James Murphy, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

It is fairly normal for your nose to be swollen at this stage. You can expect it to react to all kinds of external factors such as temperature, sunlight or increased blood flow from exercise. If there is any pain or redness associated with the swelling, you should contact your surgeon immediately and get things checked out. Otherwise, be patient, it is early days and you have a long journey ahead of you until you get your final result.

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Swelling can certainly change within the 1st month post surgery.  It is important that you keep in close touch with your surgeon about your concerns so that he/she can provide guidance on post surgery maintenance.  Best of luck...

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Micos,Thanks for your question.You are very early in the postoperative healing period.  The tip of the nose can experience changes in swelling for up to one year after surgery.  Diet and activities that can cause other parts of your body to swell will really make the tip swell.  These include salty foods, low protein intake, excess heat exposure, exercise, bending over too much, etc.  My patients tape their tips every night for up to 2 months after surgery to reduce this problem that you are experiencing.  In some severe cases, I might even inject low dose steroids into the tip to control swelling.  See your rhinoplasty surgeon for more guidance.Good luck,Dr. Shah

Anthony Bared, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes.  It is perfectly normal and expected to have swelling which fluctuates after a rhinoplasty.  You can expect for this to happen for months after surgery.  You will notice your nose more swollen in the morning.  You may notice it more swollen after exercise.  And you will notice it more swollen if you are retaining water after a salty meal.  The skin over the nose is conforming to the new shape of the nose and this process manifests itself as swelling.  This fluctuation and swelling will eventually resolve as the skin accommodates itself to the new shape of the nose.

Michael T. Somenek, MD · Answer

It is absolutely normal for your nose to have swelling that fluctuates in the early stages of healing after rhinoplasty. As the nose continues to heal, the swelling will decrease further and the fluctuations will decrease. Be patient throughout this process and make sure that you routinely follow up with your rhinoplasty surgeon to monitor your nose for any changes. Good luck.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Yes, it is absolutely normal for you to have swelling fluctuations at 3 1/2 weeks post surgery!  Many things can affect the swelling...heat, exercise, etc.  As you can imagine, the area for rhinoplasty is very small and a little swelling can be noticeable.

Is it normal for the swelling to come and go have the Rhinoplasty? I am 3 1/2 weeks post surgery.

Answers (7)

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