How long does it take for the columella to completely resolve swelling?

Hello and thank you for your question. It is very normal to be swollen at 4 months postoperative.  The appearance of your columella may be related to if your surgery was open or closed technique.  With open rhinoplasty, there will be more columellar swelling.  The dorsal aspect of the bridge of the nose will usually decrease earlier than the nasal tip/columella swelling. Nasal tip/columella swelling can sometimes take 6-12 months to fully resolve. I advise patients that the final result of rhinoplasty takes 12 months.  I recommend that you return to see your surgeon, as he/she will have a good idea of what to expect in regards to your specific progress, since they can evaluate you in relation to your preoperative appearance.Best wishes and good luck.

Your columella may be thick from a columella strut, or it may be thick because of swelling. If it is due to swelling, then this could take about a year to resolve.