My nose is still long after Rhinoplasty. Will is get shorter?

Thanks for the question. If you have thick skin, the nose will continue to improve for several months after the surgery. I have even seen the nose get thinner for 18 to 24 months, during which time the nose continues to become more defined. As the tip becomes more defined the nose may look shorter, though not by 1 cm. An issue like a hanging columella may not change that much, however it would be helpful to see before and photos of your nose. For patients with thicker skin, I have found that conservative steroid and 5-FU injections can be helpful.One important thing to keep in mind is that when patients have thick skin,  it is important not to make the cartilage framework too small underneath. I have done many revision rhinoplasties in which the prior surgeon aggressively removed more and more cartilage in order to make the nose smaller and this created a bulbous nose filled with scar and lacking definition.Feel free to contact our office and we can help you find somebody in Southern California. I trained Beverly Hills so I know a lot of the surgeons there.Best regards,Dr. Mehta

Sometimes a nose is too long after rhinoplasty and needs to be shortened at a second procedure. You would have to wait about a years. Shortening a long nose and correcting a hanging columella are simple and can usually done using the closed approach.

Hang in there! As long as the shape and swelling are improving week to week, however slowly, there is still hope for the final outcome. Ask you plastic surgeon if there would be any benefit to taping or a steroid injection that can help speed your recovery. It takes over a year to realize the final results of rhinoplasty. Think of it this way, one millimeter of swelling would not even be noticeable in a breast augmentation. One millimeter may be the whole difference between success and failure in a rhinoplasty. It will take well over a year before that last millimeter of swelling has gone away and right now there is even more swelling as it is still very early.

If your tip is still hard and insensate, you may still have swelling to recover from.  Once the tip feels a bit softer like normal cartilage and you have normal tip sensation, you may consider a revision.   However, A 1 cm change in length sounds excessive.  If you could provide pictures, you may be better counseled.  

For rhinoplasty surgery it is
best to wait at least one year to see the final results.There is still swelling in the tissue at this
point.You should discuss your concerns
with your Plastic Surgeon.

Recovery takes a long time after rhinoplasty and sometimes
the swelling a can take a year or longer to resolve. Your nose likely will get
a bit shorter – if it is not short enough, they can take a little more off the
top (or in your case, off the bottom).

At just 4 months, there is still plenty of time for healing that will include the continued resolution of swelling.  I recommend massages and steroid injections for such situations.

You should expect some additional decrease in the size of your tip over the next few months especially if you describe that your tip is still hard. However, the hanging columella is unlikely to improve. A 1cm increased length sounds like a lot. Perhaps a picture would be more revealing. Recommendations are limited without pictures. I would discuss your concerns with your surgeon as they would likely want to do something for you if the goals of the surgery did not meet your expectations.

Hello,Patience is key. Swelling can occur for up to a year post-op, which can change the appearance. You should see the final result by your 1 year mark. If you are still unhappy with your results at that time, I recommend seeking a second opinion. Please make sure you consult with a physician who has years of experience in facial cosmetic surgery and rhinoplasty. best of luck to you,