Is it normal for my nose to look this big after rhinoplasty surgery? 3 days post-op. (Photos)

You need to have patience with your body as it begins to heal. The skin, bone and cartilage are all traumatized during surgery. Inflammation (swelling) is the normal response and will help your nose to heal and look beautiful in the end. If, one year from now, you are unhappy with your nose, then that is the time to think about a revision procedure. Right now, concentrate on other things you like to do and let your nose and under eyes take the time to heal. I hope this helps.

Hi,
Thank you for your post. You are only 3 days post op. This is too soon to know what your final results will look like. Your nose will be swollen for a while and things will continue to heal for up to a year. Be patient and give your body time to heal. If you have any questions or concerns I would recommend following up with your surgeon. 

Dear antonellahabib,Thank you for your question. Yes, the tip and nostrils can swell tremendously after a rhinoplasty. Limit your activity and keep your head elevated, these strategies will help with the swelling. Try not to be frustrated and anxious, this is part of the process and your surgeon should be able to guide you. Trust the process, and trust your surgeon. Good luck!Nirmal R. Nathan, M.D.Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Swelling after rhinoplasty can be impressive. You're going to have to be patient with your nose. I tell my patients that at 1 week after surgery your nose is still extremely swollen, but the rest of the world won't be able to to tell that you had surgery. For the final result for your nose, a year must pass for all the swelling to go down. There are other certain nuances that are helpful in counseling you on expected recovery such as open or closed and what all was done. Hope this helps and God Bless!Dr. Robb Jr. 

Thank you for your question. 
With any nasal surgery, the name of the game is patience. At one week, we would expect you to have quite a bit of swelling and bruising still noticeable and may have trouble breathing out of one or both nostrils. By the end of two weeks, typically, you will still be swollen but look more like you have a bad cold, rather than post surgical. Swelling can take up to a year to be completely gone, however, by 9 weeks you will look very good and should see big difference from your pre-op pics.

Thank you for your question.What you're experiencing is quite normal.Typically, the initial swelling after nose surgery subsides within two to three weeks.  However, residual swelling, especially in the tip of the nose, can take about a year to resolve as the contour refines. Swelling can also vary through the day, being more prominent in the morning. Try and be patient as your nose will continue to heal. Be sure to address any concerns with your surgeon.

As you will experience, changes occur over the course of rhinoplasty healing. At first, the nose looks too "fat" and too "up," especially at the tip. Most of the dropping happens early, but there can still be significant changes over the full year and beyond. You have a long way to go in the recovery process and must remain patient and stay in contact with your surgeon.