My tip is still swollen and big after Rhinoplasty a year and a half later. Is this normal? (photos)

Question

I have had revision rhinoplasty (3 times!) as the first surgeon absoloutly ruined my nose.the tip was corrected and lifted but still feels thick hard and swollen! I have thick skin and it usually takes swelling ages to go but I was wondering as it's been over a year and half what I can do?is this normal?i can't undergo anymore surgery so please help if you can!

Ivan Wayne, MD · Answer

There are some general observations on revision rhinoplasty
that can be made applying to your situation. It is not possible to give an
exact assessment of your situation without seeing some pre-op photos to see
where you started.Swelling after any rhinoplasty can take years to resolve.
Typically the bulk of the swelling is gone by 3 months though most noses get a
little smaller and refined over the next months to years. A revision nose will
typically take longer as there is more trauma and scar tissue to deal with.
Thicker skin swells more and takes longer to heal than thin skin. One of the biggest factors in swelling after surgery is how
much size reduction occurred. The more the nose was reduced the longer the
swelling will last. Looking at your photos it does not appear that you have
terrible swelling, in fact on the side views the opposite appears to be true. I
would of course ask your surgeon their opinion on your current state of
healing. Some surgeons will use Kenalog (steroid) injections to reduce scar
tissue. I think this can be very helpful if done carefully and is done by the
doctor who did the rhinoplasty. Steroid injections can thin the skin and weaken
the supporting cartilage if done too soon or too aggressively.Revision surgery is always possible but without an in person exam it is not clear if that would help you.Good luck and I hope this helps

Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS · Answer

Quite clear to me that massages and several injections of low dose steroids (very safe) is indicated at this time.  I start these therapies as soon as 10 days post op, and they are particularly important in revision rhinoplasty.  I would expect improvement in as soon as 2 weeks with this course.

Michael T. Somenek, MD · Answer

Since you have thick skin, you are predisposed to having prolonged swelling of the nasal tip. I see a large number of revision rhinoplasty patients in my practice and find that they benefit from a combination of nasal taping procedures and steroid(kenalog) injections. This frequently helps to bring down the swelling and create more definition to the nasal tip.

My tip is still swollen and big after Rhinoplasty a year and a half later. Is this normal? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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My tip is still swollen and big after Rhinoplasty a year and a half later. Is this normal? (photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.