How Long After a Rhinoplasty Does the Face Look “normal” Again?

The plastic surgeons on this website are constantly reminding patients the changes occur after rhinoplasty for months. However the obvious swelling that gives away a rhinoplasty is usually gone a couple of weeks.

        In a closed rhinoplasty, most patients will look very good at 2 to 3 weeks.  

 

 

 

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

The initial healing period is about 2 weeks. You will have a hard cast on the nose the first week followed by brown paper tape the second week. Any bruising around the eyes after surgery is typically resolved at 2 weeks post-op, but it may last slightly longer depending on the patient. You will still be swollen after 2 weeks, but able to go back to work and resume normal activity. Some patients return to work sooner, but it really depends on the individual. The time of the "after" photos can vary, and it really depends on the surgeon. For example, there may be a single after photo, or a series of after photos at 3 month time intervals documenting the patient's healing progress.  I hope this helps, and best of luck to you.

Recovery depends on how you define it.  It is also variable for this procedure based on the extent of the operation and the thickness of the skin.  On average most patients can return to social activities after about 10-14 days.  At 3-4 weeks a significant amount of swelling has resolved so that the swelling is not obvious to the casual observer.  It takes 6-12 months for the swelling to resolve enough to be photo ready.  Final results cannot be fully evaluated until at least 12 months. 

The majority of patients will be swollen, but look "normal" after 10-14 days.  It will vary from patient to patient and the specifics of surgery, but most people will return to school or work at this point.  "After" pictures are usually taken at 1 year, but may range from 6 months to several years post-op.  

 After a rhinoplasty, most patients are able to return to work or social activities within 10 days. On a rare occasion, some bruises last longer than that. Most of the visible swelling and bruising is dissipated at one  month, however full healing takes at least a year after the procedure. Patients with thick oily skin in the nasal tip tend  to heal over a much longer period time. Digital computer imaging would be helpful to understand what can be accomplished with your nose upon your facial features

Most patients can return to work and social activities one week following surgery. Bruising can occasionally persist for up to 10 days depending upon exactly what was done during surgery. Post-surgery photos are typically taken at 3-12 months following surgery when the swelling has mostly subsided. I hope this information is helpful. 

Usually within a week or two you look fine. The black and blue is usually gone by the end of the second and at most the third week, most of the swelling is gone too. My patients are usually out and about as soon as the cast comes off which is 5 - 7 days post op.

Dear Girlygirl,

Thank you for your question.  While this can vary a little from patient to patient, most patients like to stay home the first week as they are very swollen and bruised.  The second week, they start to look presentable and that is when they usually go back to work.  However, it is not until the second month until a great deal of the swelling is gone.  There is still some residual swelling for 6 months to a year and during that time you might noticed that the nose can swell a bit from time to time, especially with a lot of exercise, but this gets better and better with time.  I take most of my 'after' photos at 2 months.

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

   The long and the short of it is this...    Most acute swelling and bruising is gone in 7-10 days....The cast is also gone in 7 days.....I use flesh colored tape for up to 2 weeks. Minor swelling of the cheeks and chin should all be gone in 10-14 days.. While the  "ultimate" result of your rhinoplasty can take 12-18 months to be seen most patients look " normal " and unoperated on in 3-4 four weeks.