6 months post op for closed septorhinoplasty - swelling?

Question

I had a closed septorhinoplasty on April 28th, 2023, so I'm almost 6 months post op. I know the swelling takes up to a year or more to subside and really see my results. The nurse told me if I took pictures at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months, it would look different in each picture. I did not take pictures periodically and tried to trust the process. Now at 6 months post op, there is little to NO difference at all since about 2 months post op.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

At 6 months after rhinoplasty surgery, you should be seeing a favorable result, although not a final result. Sometimes visualizing your before and after photos are helpful for alleviating concerns. If goals have not been met, a 6-month postoperative visit is an excellent time to address them with your surgeon, while looking at your results in front of the computer. I hope this helps, and I wish you well moving forward. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question.
As far as I can understand from your question it is not possible to make an assessment without seeing your photos.
If you can provide photos with better lighting, from the side of your face and 1 meter away I would be able to make a proper evaluation. It would be more convenient to decide with face-to-face consultation. Best regards!

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Please resubmit your question with photos. If there’s a problems I may be able to sort the situation out for you

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Minor changes can have a significant impact in rhinoplasty outcome.
That said, the majority of the wedding goes down in the first six weeks, and after that small amount of residual swelling, go down very gradually.
At six months, you results are more or less final, though to be very accurate. There may be very small changes from here on.
If you’re not happy with the results for six months, then you’re probably not going to be happy with the results six months from now.
Most plastic surgeon will not do revisions within the first year.
If you’re unhappy with your outcome, then consider your provider selection.
Recognize the secondary or revision rhinoplasty surgery is far more difficult and complex than primary rhinoplasty surgery.
If the surgeon is unable to deliver quality results as a primary procedure, and there may not be the right provider to attempt secondary surgery.
At the same time providers are often held accountable for their own work, and generally who want to, and should take responsibility for their outcomes.
Each patient has to make the wrong decision. If staying with the same provider isn’t wise or if it’s better to recognize perhaps you should’ve been a little more careful selecting your provider in the first place.
Being board-certified and plastic surgery with years of experience, and an overall good reputation does not mean somebody has mastered every single procedure, especially not complex operations like rhinoplasty.
Find the best provider I suggest patience to schedule multiple in person, consultations well in advance of having surgery.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of the previous patient who had similar characteristics to your own. An experienced plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients. Highly experienced surgeon associate in fact have hundreds or preferably thousands of before and after pictures to choose from. Being shown a handful of pre-selected images, representing the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider. 
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider. The more consultations you schedule the more likely you are to find the best provider for your needs. Having only one consultation leaves you with virtually no choice to be made at all.
Follow up with your provider and discuss your concerns with him or her or schedule in person second opinion consultations with other providers in your community. For second opinion, consultations come prepared to bringing with you a complete set of before and after pictures and a copy of your operative report. These are all available from your current providers office if you request them.
Without seeing proper before, and after pictures, we can’t begin to make an assessment on the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

6 months post op for closed septorhinoplasty - swelling?

Answers (4)