18-year-old Caucasian woman, open rhinoplasty to lift tip 10 months ago, can you help with healing concerns (Photos)

You may need to discuss options for reshaping your nose and addressing the soft tissues. There are several effective approaches, including the use of medical-grade high-strength retinol, taping, and Kenalog injections. Additionally, it's important to ensure that your original rhinoplasty achieved the desired shape. If you are satisfied with the current appearance of your nose, it may not require further intervention.

Your issue is that your tip complex is sitting too low relative to the level of the anterior septum, or bridge. This can be rectified by a limited revision of the tip with placement of a cartilage graft to support the tip complex. Your surgeon would know how much of your septal cartilage is available for harvest and grafting. If you have none, you will need either fresh frozen cadaver rib cartilage or your own rib cartilage; ear cartilage will not work.

Hello and thank you for your question. At 10 months postop, it is still very normal to have swelling. The final results take at least 1.5 years for the swelling to fully resolve. This can require lots of patience and waiting. Steroid injections performed by your surgeon can be extremely helpful. I usually start steroid injections around 1 to 2 months after surgery and continue as needed. I recommend that you maintain close follow up with your surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon