Is my round nose making me look younger?

Hello and thank you for your question. It is very normal to be swollen at 6 months postoperative. The dorsal aspect of the bridge of the nose will usually decrease earlier than the nasal tip swelling. Nasal tip swelling can sometimes take 6-12 months to fully resolve. I advise patients that the final result of rhinoplasty takes 12 months. If you had an open rhinoplasty, the nasal tip swelling may take 1-2 years to resolve.  I recommend that you return to see your surgeon, as he/she will have a good idea of what to expect in regards to your specific progress, since they can evaluate you in relation to your preoperative appearance.Best wishes and good luck.

Hi Lillsquibbles. You mentioned in this post & some previous posts that you had your "hump" taken down and your nose "shortened", as well as having "thick skin". You feel your tip is very round and that it may be contributing to a more youthful face. Firstly, I checked your photo and you do look rather youthful but still attractive. I wouldn't say that it is just your nose that makes you look youthful!Reducing the structure or support under the skin envelope will cause the skin the re-drape and contract to various degrees. The thicker the skin, the less predictable the amount of contraction. And if you add some residual swelling that hasn't quite resolved, it will keep the "roundness" that much longer. You should ask your surgeon about possible injections with steroid &/or 5-FU. Also, Taping your nose to see if he feels it will help.

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.

It is normal to have some swelling 6 months after rhinoplasty. The roundness will likely improve. Discuss the issue with your surgeon for a more accurate assessment of what to expect. I often consider kenalog injections in thick skin patients with persistent swelling, but this should only be performed by your surgeon if they feel it is necessary. Best of luck. 

You really need to provide a photo of your nose if you would like to get any reliable recommendation regarding your tip shape/size.

  Hi, I have performed and taught Rhinoplasty for 30 years.  An open Rhinoplasty has more dissection, than a Closed Rhinoplasty, of nasal tissues over the tip area which disrupts the normal lymphatic drainage.  This will reconnect at approximately 6 months post Rhinoplasty.  The tip should continue to slowly decrease in size.  Thicker skin is ,as you may already know, more prone to post op scar tissue formation that will blunt the shape of  the tip.  Your Rhinoplasty Surgeon should advise you on nasal massage and possible kenalog injections to deal that issues, should it occur. 

Dear lillsquibbles, It is common for the tip to remain swollen for over six months especially in patients with thick skin. Over the next few months you should see the remainder of the swelling start to slowly dissipate allowing you a better idea of your final result. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon as he/she knows best where you are in the recovery phase and should be able to discuss with you your proposed results. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.