I am 7 weeks post op from my Rhinoplasty. But my profile view is worse than before. Is this normal? Is it because its swollen?

Thank you for your question!It is understandable that you are a concerned with what you feel especially with the "worse profile" and a "swollen" nose. The post op swelling is anticipated and every patient is a little different hence the possibility of explaining what you are experiencing.Unfortunately, with the pictures posted, the lack of surgical details and the inability to perform a physical exam it is not possible to provide you with a definitive answer that could be medically sound.Nonetheless, it is way to early to pass a judgement. Usually, a year is required before formulating how your nose will be. Even then, your nose will keep shaping itself and to complement your face for better results in the years to come.My best recommendations at the moment is to be patient, allow nature to take its course and edema subsides for better results. There is no doubt that once the swelling subsides, more definition and shape will be achieved and you should be happier with the results.Also, it is important that you keep communicating with your surgeon and work as a team together to achieve the best results possible.Congratulations on your surgery and please remain positive!Ali Sajjadian, MD FACS

At 7 months you should be pretty close to the final result.  It may be you need some evening out of the dorsum.  This can be achieved with some additional rasping to even out the profile.  

While there is still some swelling, I believe the unsatisfactory
profile is due to what we call a “polly beak” or “supratip” deformity. It is usually
because the surgeon removed excessive bone from the nasal dorsum. In any event,
it can be fixed, but most likely will require additional surgery. Good luck!

It is hard to tell but it almost looks like you have a supra tip break, which is the transition point between the top of your nose leading down in the tip. This is usually what you see when you take down the bump on a nose and refine the tip. It is hard for me to tell if the nasal dorsum was taken down too much or if there is some residual nasal bone that can be rasped down. Your surgeon will have to determine that during a physical exam.

Thank you for the photos though a full examination is really needed.  That said you appear to have a super tip deformity that could be refined with a revisionDr Corbin

Dear Na12345, There are two separate answers for your question depending on your phase of recovery. Your title sentence states you are "seven days" post op. If this is the case then you need to wait for the swelling to dissipate in the tip as you are very early in the recovery phase. Your secondary paragraph states you are "seven months" post surgery if that is the case then you appear to have what we call a "polly beak" and this may require revision surgery after the one year mark. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon and he/she will be able to provide you some answers after examination. Best regards, Michael V.Elam, M.D.

The first part of your question states that you are 7 weeks post op. The second part of your question says that you are 7 months post op after your rhinoplasty. If you had undergone surgery about 7 weeks ago, you can expect the swelling in you nose to improve over the next several months. If your surgery was 7 months ago, most of the swelling has resolved by now. If you are at the 7 month point, I recommend discussing your concerns with your plastic surgeon. There are potential non-surgical options, such as steroid injections, that may help to improve the dorsal line or profile around the lower 1/3 of your nose. Hope this helps. Thank you for sharing your photo and concerns. Best wishes.