22 days post-op: the tip of my nose is too high. My surgeon said they over-exaggerated as it will drop, is this true? (Photos)

Question

Will my nose drop? If so how much? Why are sides uneven & one side looks sunken in? My tip still looks very bulbous and the tips wide. All I wanted was my tip smaller and my sides brought in for a soft feminine look.This does not look normal or like its healing correctly. It looks like sloppy work to me. Do I have a right to be concerned or can this still turn out pretty and natural? I am aware that I have to wait for at least 3 months and full results at a year, but I don't feel good about it.

P. Daniel Ward, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. Based on the provided photos, I cannot make any determination about the nasal tip position. However, in general, the tip does drop after rhinoplasty. I would talk to your surgeon to ask what you can do to help with that process. You may be able to massage it to make it go down faster.

Richard Clark, MD · Answer

Please listen to the doctors who have responded and realize that:1) You are not crazy and your tip is swollen  2) you will drive yourself crazy if you keep focusing on your tip size and your anxiety about it will not make your nose get smaller. 3) Not a single one of us surgeons wants to be judged by our rhinoplasty tips at 22 days because the tip always holds onto swelling longer than the rest of the nose and especially after open rhinoplasty. 4) The tip will no doubt be much less swollen by the time most of us take pictures which h is 8-12 weeks .5). Try to de-focus your angst for the next 5-6 months because it is wasted energy and not healthy stress and it would make matters worse to force a revision surgery before that time...and by 6 months you may well like your result. 6)  Now, having said those things, I would discuss with your surgeon strategic taping which I do and teach my patients to do at home which can compress the tip and supra-tip and often forces edema out of these areas and I have had patients do this sometimes for months. 7) There is a very narrow indication for Kenalog injection into the supra-tip but I even hesitate to mention it because it can lead to over thinning of the tissues especially if not done with a low dose and no more frequent than once a month for only up to three doses.8)  I will share with you that on rare occasion when we had to speed up the resolution of swelling for a particular and important reason, I have placed a patient on a one time Medrol [steroid] dose pack. These are perhaps not comfortable options in your surgeons arsenal and you should respect their post-op regimen; and by far the safest plan is to and wait it out 9) apply "Tincture of Time" and wait it out!

Anthony J. Wilson, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is much too soon to determine really anything about your result. Rhinoplasties take at least six months to settle into place. There is often significant swelling that may be associated with a larger or more bulbous appearance (consistent with your concerns). Reach out to your surgeon and discuss ways to speed up the healing. Some surgeons recommend regular taping to get it to improve.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Thank you for the photos and question but it is too soon to judge your final result but express your concerns to your surgeon as he knows what he did and where you should be in the healing processDr Corbin

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

I understand your concern but it is much too soon to evaluate your nose. Share your questions with your surgeon and continue with your follow-up appointments.

22 days post-op: the tip of my nose is too high. My surgeon said they over-exaggerated as it will drop, is this true? (Photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Tip

Answer: Tip

Answer: Evaluating My nose 22 Days after Rhinoplasty

Answer: Evaluating My nose 22 Days after Rhinoplasty

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22 days post-op: the tip of my nose is too high. My surgeon said they over-exaggerated as it will drop, is this true? (Photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Tip

Answer: Tip

Answer: Evaluating My nose 22 Days after Rhinoplasty

Answer: Evaluating My nose 22 Days after Rhinoplasty

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.