Long-term swelling - Will my nose ever look like the photo my surgeon took straight after the operation? (photos)

Question

Hi I had rhinoplasty 10months ago but my nose still doesn’t look like the photo by surgeon took after the operation. Do most noses shrink down the photo or not? If so how long could it take? Thanks

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Your nose does appear swollen, wide and a bit crooked along it's length, and we have seen several patients who have had swollen nasal appearances for over a year. If your nose looks much better and narrower in the evening as compared to the morning, your swelling will dissipate. If your 10am nose looks like your 10 pm nose, you may be seeing your final result. An examination is necessary. Hope this helps. Dr Joseph

Caner Kacmaz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Your picture was taken right after the surgery so it did not have the chance to get swollen yet. From your pictures, I can see that you have thick skin. Thick skin takes longer to heal and it takes at least 12 months for your nose to completely settle.  Be patient and you will see the swelling get better in time. Have a wonderful evening.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

You are still recovering from your rhinoplasty surgery.  The nose remains swollen for a prolonged period of time, and I tell my patients that it will be at least one year before we can judge the outcome after rhinoplasty.  Immediate postoperative photos may not reflect the final outcome because it does not reflect the healing process that is different in everyone.  I would discuss your concerns with your surgeon as they are familiar with the typical recovery with their rhinoplasty technique.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Your nose will continue to shrink down for as much as three years. To doled the process along you might consider steroid injections.  This is very commonly done to reduce swelling faster

Behrad Elmiyeh, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS (ORL HNS) · Answer

Many Thanks for your questions and for sharing your photographs.
It will take about a year for the healing process to complete. However, it can take upto 18 months in some patients particularly in those with thick nasal skin or in older patients. During this healing process, contraction and absorption may result in slight deviation of nose or apperance of some irrigularities.
I appreciate that you wish to see the final result now. You must remain patient until your nose has fully healed please.
Best wishes,

Robert Ciardullo, MD · Answer

How long does it take after rhinoplasty to see the final result? for people with average skin it generally takes at least one year to see the final result particularly of the tip. For people with thicker than average skin it could take more like 2 to 3 years. In some cases Cortizone injection is used to speed up the resolution of scar tissue and swelling .When this is used, how much is used, and how many times varies dramatically from one patient to the next.

Onur Gilleard, MBBS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Hi, the on table result and the final result will never look the same. On table there is zero scar tissue development and minimal oedema. Whilst over time the nasal tip tissue oedema/ swelling (that hits its peak at about 2 weeks after the cast comes off) gradually gets less scar tissue will always develop to some degree. As a result u will not ever get the same amount of definition as your on table photo. Steroid injection can help dissolve some of the excess scar tissue and also thins the skin making the tip smaller but needs to be used with caution as can leave contour defects like small dents. At 10 months your nose will probably still get a bit smaller and more defined over the next 6 months before reaching a plateau

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hello! It is possible that your nose will continue to improve. Intraoperative photos are very hard to judge as the healing process can be so variable between patients. I tell my patients that rhinoplasty is a journey and swelling can take well through 12 months to finally settle down. If you haven't tried compressions, taping, and steroid injections, that would be a good starting point. If improvement is seen, I would continue with those interventions. If the swelling in your photo fluctuates with salt in your diet, excess heat exposure during the day, etc., it is likely swelling. Hope this helps.

Jose Segura, MD, PhD - Account Suspended · Answer

La congestión linfática de una nariz puede tardar hasta un año, por ello se recomienda utilizar tratamientos alternos para reducir la inflamación en forma tomada como lo es la ribotripsina o el sies, lo cual mejora el resultado en corto tiempo y digito presión de la zona. Saludos.

Jeffrey C. Hamm, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
From your photos, I note an excellent early postoperative result, followed by swelling, followed by resolving swelling.
Rhinoplasty is quite a traumatic procedure. First, one strips the lining of the nose from overlying soft tissue and skin, then strips the nasal bones and cartilages from the underlying bone and cartilage. Then one breaks the nasal bones at their base and again at the top of the bridge with a chisel-like device, then one may remove segments of cartilage and bone. Although it varies from individual to individual, it takes up to 18-24 months for a rhinoplasty to completely heal and for all post-traumatic swelling to subside. 
Be patient...continue follow up with your surgeon if concerned.
Best wishes...

Long-term swelling - Will my nose ever look like the photo my surgeon took straight after the operation? (photos)

Answers (10)

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