Why does my nose look bigger 10 months after rhinoplasty? (Photo)

Question

it's 10 months post op: - bridge of my nose looks bigger/wider than my original pre-op nose - you barely see any difference in the tip and nostrils - columella scar is clearly visible I asked for a small nose (front view). attached is the before and after picture. please be honest. did the doctor do a good job? i'm only interested in the front view. i hate the way it looks (gigantic and unrefined). thank you.

Yannis Alexandrides, MD, FACS · Answer

It could be due an edema that hasn't completely resolved yet, however, I would advise returning to your surgeon to discuss what the original goals were for the surgery to decipher whether they have been met.

Andrew P. Trussler, MD · Answer

it does take approximately one year to see near complete recovery from a rhinoplasty, however if the nose looks wider and larger at 10 months it is likely that cartilage grafts were used to expand or straighten your nose and/or the nasal bones were not brought in enough. The thinness of the nose may improve with time, taping, steroid injections or revision type procedures. It would be improtant to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.

Frank Scaccia, MD, FACS · Answer

If a bump was removed so that the side view of our nose was improved and the fracturing of the nose was not done completely the front view can appear wider. You may need repeat osteotomies of the bone. I agree with you the tip doesn't look much different and maybe a more aggressive tip pasty may be necessary but sometimes the tip can have residual swelling for 2 years.

Why does my nose look bigger 10 months after rhinoplasty? (Photo)

Answers (3)