My nose tip is too flat after rhinoplasty, and it has no projection. Will it change? (Photo)

Question

I am 6 weeks post op and truly feel discouraged with my results. I feel like my whole nose has been chopped off and my tip is non-existent. Is it possible for the nose to gain MORE projection as swelling subsides or should I come to terms with the fact that I've had a botched nose job?

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear KristinaIt will take 6 months for tip to settle and likely you will have a smaller tip but you will not have more projection. I get the sense that you might mean de-rotation as well. You can have a tip revision at 6 -9 months to reshape your tip by adding cartilage grafts as needed. look for experienced and well trained plastic surgeons.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

With the swelling it is too soon to say. I would need to feel the nose to give a proper answer. If the nose remains this way after another3 months then I would advise a revision rhinoplasty by an experienced revision rhinoplasty surgeon, Look at his before/after examples to make sure you like his work.

Thomas J. Walker, MD, FACS · Answer

While the tip projection will not increase post-OP (if anything, tip projection gets decreased with time from lack of adequate tip support), you are only 6 weeks after surgery and definitely still have some moderate amount of swelling, especially at the nasal tip. The entire nose and tip will get more refined with time and your tip may appear more projected than right now. You just have to be patient for now, follow-up with your surgeon, and adhere to his or her post-OP instructions. If you still are dissatisfied after 3-6 months, you should discuss this with your surgeon and/or seek a second opinion. Best wishes!

Marcelo Ghersi, MD · Answer

It is difficult to tell if things are gonna get a lot better after 6 weeks. If after 3 months nothing has changed, I would seek a second opinion.

Brian M. Harmych, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  The postoperative recovery after rhinoplasty surgery can be quite anxiety–provoking. It will take at least a full year for all of the swelling to completely resolve. Therefore, it is very important that during this time you maintain frequent close follow-up appointments with your rhinoplasty surgeon. Only a thorough physical examination can determine what changes are due to swelling or some other cause.

Mark Been, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you are feeling discouraged with your results right now. Without seeing your pre-operative photos, it is hard for me to comment on the results of your rhinoplasty. Because you're only six weeks removed from surgery, your nose can still change appearance once swelling subsides. I recommend following up with your surgeon to discuss your concerns so he or she can better guide your expectations. Good luck!

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

You may have some improvement with time; however, if not the fix can be quite straightforward in that you need some additional tip projection which can be provided by cartilage grafting in the tip.

Aaron J. Mayberry, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, Kristina!  The actual tip projection will not increase over time although it may appear that way once the swelling goes down.  The tip rotation will probably improve over time as well.  Try to be patient, I know it's hard but everything should improve.  Maintain close followup with your plastic surgeon.  I don't know what it looked like before but I doubt that it was 'botched'.  If after a year, allowing sufficient time for the swelling to go down and healing of the tissues, you still don't like the projection then a cartilage tip graft can definitely help.  Hang in there!

Elbert T. Cheng, MD · Answer

Hi Kristina,Thank you for your question and I'm sorry you're not happy with your early rhinoplasty result.  As others have posted, be patient with your nose, as it will continue to refine itself over time.  Having said that, if you feel you have lost projection - tip of your nose projecting out from the face of your nose - this will not likely improve.  Do you have before pictures we can see?  At this point, try to stay positive and maintain a good relationship with your surgeon.  I would wait 1 year before embarking on any revision surgery if you are still unhappy.  It is important to find an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who is well-versed in all techniques when considering revision surgery.Good luck to you and I hope that ultimately you will be happy with your nose without revision surgery!

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and the photos.  The tip projection or relative tip projection may improve with time if the swelling from the bridge of the nose goes down more than that of the tip of the nose.  While your overall projection of the tip of the nose will not increase over time the relative projection as compared to the bridge and supra tip area may improve.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

My nose tip is too flat after rhinoplasty, and it has no projection. Will it change? (Photo)

Answers (12)

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