How long could it take for my nose to reach its final shape after a rhinoplasty?

Question

I had closed Rhinoplasty 4 weeks ago to improve symmetry of my nose and define a droopy tip. Post-op my nose is more symmetrical but the tip doesn't appear to have any change. Doc said he expected the tip to "go up" more as he removed a bit of bone that was sticking down. However most swelling seems to have gone down now; is it possible the tip will become more refined in time or should I accept it as is? (After major swelling subsided after 1 week the tip shape has stayed the same since)

Jeffrey Joseph, MD, FACS · Answer

the final result of a rhinoplasty may not be evident for 1-2 years, depending on your skin thickness. The majority of the edema goes away in the first 6 months, but a small amount of swelling persists for quite some time

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Dear MichaelMcGThanks for the question. Final result will take 12 months so it’s possible that you have some swelling. It’s better to consult your doctor to figure out level of swelling. I wish you all the best.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD · Answer

It usually takes, depending on your ethnicity, thickness of skin, male or female, these all contribute to a significantly longer post operative recovery. It usually takes at least one year to see the final result, especially the nasal tip area. In secondary surgery, it may take longer.

Babak Azizzadeh, MD · Answer

Because you are still very early on in the recovery process, you shouldn't be concerned with the final results of your procedure just yet. In many cases, it may take an entire year to see optimal results following your rhinoplasty and up to two years for patients with thicker skin who underwent a complex procedure. Unless you are having a problem with functionality, it's best to continue to be patient during the healing process.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The tip at 4 weeks will rotate up after cephalic trim in a closed rhinoplasty (seen it a hundred times or more).

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

Healing from rhinoplasty has several phases. The early phase is the swelling and bruising in the first week. During the next couple of weeks the swelling begins to go down and you can see the general shape and proportions of the nose. By three months most of the swelling has resolved above the tip. The tip will look much better but still lack definition. The definition of the tip can then take up to a year to be fully realized. I would not expect your tip to "rise" by itself two months after surgery.

How long could it take for my nose to reach its final shape after a rhinoplasty?

Answers (12)