How Many Follow Up Appointments Are There After Rhinoplasty?

The first visit after nose job surgery is 7-8 days post-op to remove nasal tape, splint and sutures, and to review the use of makeup. If all looks fine, the next scheduled visits are typically 1 month post-op (for initial post-op photos), then 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Post-op visits are scheduled for 30 minutes.

Hope this helps.

Dr. Joseph

I typically see my
patients after one week to remove the cast and every 4 months afterwards for
the first year proceeding rhinoplasty. The followup may be more frequent if I
see scar tissue developing to inject kenalog to reduce scar tissue and less
frequent if patient is out of state or country in which case emailing pictures
may be adequate to monitor progress

Rhinoplasty is the most complex, difficult procedure that we do in cosmetic plastic surgery. The follow up is critical as well. I, in general, see my patients within the first week to remove their sutures and splints. Therefore, I see them at 3 and 6 weeks and again at 3, 6, and 12 months and annually after that. I want to see the patient because the shape of the nose and dorsum tip will change significantly over the first 1-1/2 years post-op. I also like to see my patients in follow-up  to see how they are doing and to provide any counseling and reassurance that the wound healing is progressing normally.

I typically see all of my patients the day following surgery for a quick check and to answer any questions they may have.  I see rhinoplasty patients at the one week time point for splint removal and nasal cleaning.  Follow ups are then scheduled according to the individual patient's needs.  I prefer to see rhinoplasty patients at least every three months for the first year following surgery.

Every surgeon has his or her own schedule, and each patient may be individualized.  I usually see all patients the day after surgery for a check, then at one week for suture and splint removal, then at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months (and yearly after that).  If patients require more visits, I am happy to see them, and if their schedule doesn't permit this exact timeline, we work around it.  Appointments last approx. 15 minutes - 30 minutes, depending on the situation and timeline. 

My routine for post op care after rhinoplasty is to see them the next day if we used nasal packing then 1 week post op to remove the nasal cast. The next appointment is in one or two weeks to clean out crusts to help them breathe better. Then I see local patients monthly for a year then annually just to check up on them, since the nose does continue to heal for years.

Many of my patients are students going back to college or away for the summer. The bare minimum is the one day and week visit. I often don't see these students for 6 months to a year. This has little effect on their healing. Rarely in patients with very thick skin I like to inject steroids in the tip of their noses a few months post op but I will know before surgery if this will be necessary and discuss this with the patient.

Later follow ups don't really change the overall result but it helps me maintain communication with the patient as well as allows me to assess my results.

Rhinoplasty follow up visits are usually a matter of convenience after the first week visit. Usually I see local patients at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and a year. Foreign patients I see whenever they are in Beverly Hills.

In general, I like to see my patients at 3 days post op, 3 weeks post op and 3 months post op.  I am also always available for any issues in between.  There is no cost for the follow up appointments and the exact dates and frequency are customized for each patient.

 

Good Luck.

Follow up visits are intended to allow your surgeon to supervise your progress and make sure all goes smoothly and if complications do happen that they are handled properly and promptly. Follow up visits are included in your surgeon's fee and should not cost you anything. That being said every surgeon has his own regimen of follow up visits or each operation. As regards nose surgery it usually entails about 6 visits. 

The postoperative visits for a rhinoplasty depend on the individual surgeon and are also influenced by the patient and his/her results and progress. Some patients need or desire more frequent visits; others, the minimal amount. There is no charge for any of the follow-up visits.

A common schedule can be a few days after surgery, one week, two weeks, 1 month, 3-4 months, 6 months and a year - but there is a lot of variability.