When does the majority of swelling in a nose go down after rhinoplasty?

Question

Im about 3 months out. Since my cast removal im a lot less swollen but Im afraid my nose will get smaller than it is right now. Hopefully not. Is the biggest part of swelling done? I am aware that it needs a year to heal but when does the biggest part of swelling go down? At what point will i be able to say this is what im going to be working with? Is my nose just going to get even tinier or is it just going to refine with time?

Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS · Answer

You are still early in your recovery period and the nose is expected to be quite swollen at this point.The swelling during this time is rarely symmetric. One side will always resolve more quickly than the other. The majority of the swelling will resolve in 3-6 months, and will continue to resolve as your nose heals for up to 1-2 years. You have not reached your final shape as the nose will continue to heal and reduce in size for up to a year. Once it does reach its final shape you may be more pleased with the appearance of your nose.

Matthew Bridges, MD, FACS · Answer

The answer depends on a few things.  First it definitely depends on the approach.  Closed rhinoplasty swelling generally goes down much faster than open rhinoplasty.  Also the maneuvers performed during surgery can influence how long swelling sticks around.  Your surgeon should be able to give you a better idea.

Hagen Schumacher, PhD, FRCS(Plast), FEBOPRAS · Answer

Hello,
As you rightly say, the swelling takes over a year to go down. The swelling in the upper nose improves quicker than the tip which takes longest to improve. Most of the changes are early on within the first 3 months but minor changes are still expected after that time. You can take regular dated photos to monitor the progress for reassurance.

Jon Kurkjian, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. 
With any nasal surgery, the name of the game is patience. At one week, we would expect you to have quite a bit of swelling and bruising still noticeable and may have trouble breathing out of one or both nostrils. By the end of two weeks, typically, you will still be swollen but look more like you have a bad cold, rather than post surgical. Swelling can take up to a year to be completely gone, however, by 9 weeks you will look very good and should see big difference from your pre-op pics.

Jan Zemplenyi, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The majority of your swelling will have gone down around 3-4 months but can take up to 12 months for all of it to subside. It sounds like you're progressing well. Be sure to follow up with your surgeon if you have any concerns down the road. Best of luck to you!

Steven M. Camp, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question about rhinoplasty.It sounds like you are progressing well, and much of your swelling is likely resolved.  In general, the tip stays swollen longest and goes down very slowly and  incrementally over a full year.  The degree of change is usually something that you the patient notices, but not necessarily most other people.  Follow up with your surgeon to share your concerns.

When does the majority of swelling in a nose go down after rhinoplasty?

Answers (6)

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