Is it normal to not have an in-person follow-up after rhinoplasty? Is it necessary?

Thank you for your question. For our patients who travel from abroad, we also ask them to send their pictures 1,3, 6, and 12 months after their surgeries. I can assure you that your surgeon will take a look at them and let you know what he thinks about the process and how well you are healing.
I suggest my patients do online meetings with me if they have any concerns or questions about their healing process as well. They are always welcome in our office for a follow-up if they are in town. Best wishes.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Every surgeon will have their own follow-up schedule and standard of care after rhinoplasty. Typically, the first appointment is at one week for splint removal, the next one in about three weeks, followed at three months. Follow-up continues for about a year, as the surgeon sees the patient through the complete rhinoplasty recovery time. If you feel more comfortable with having more frequent follow-up appointments, you may call and schedule a visit, especially if you believe you are encountering issues. Hope that helps!

There’s no normal or not normal on things like this. And there’s no right or wrong. There are just different styles of practice. Obviously you got the impression that the surgeon doesn’t care that much. But surgeons also know that if you’re not happy you’d come back. If you’re happy with the result that’s the important thing. These other issues. Don’t read too
Much into it as long as you got a good result

Is intermediate and long-term follow up after rhinoplasty necessary? I take my patients’ casts off at one week. I always ask them to come in for a follow up in approximately two months to see how everything is healing. In people with relatively thin skin who do not need any Cortizone injections I also ask to see them sometime between six and 12 months to get an idea of the final result. In people with thicker skin at the two month visit I will usually ask them to return in another two months at which point we consider using steroid injection to the tip and supratip area if needed. I always like to see the patients at about a year to see the end result. Having said that I will say that my problem is the opposite of yours I ask all my patients to come in for follow up after 2 to 3 months but many do not and I always love to see all my patients after about a year but probably only 10 or 20% actually come in for long-term follow up despite being asked to. I have to presume that means they are satisfied. Many of my patients come from overseas or across the country so it is understandable that as long as they are happy with the results they don’t return for long-term follow up . In those cases some of them stay in touch by email or phone. But it is always best when patients come in for intermediate and long-term follow up and it is always best for doctors to afford them that opportunity.

You are asking a 'standard of care' issue. Each surgeon can follow their own ways of handling postoperative followups. Usually at least 1-2 postop visits occur. But why not call and make an in person with the surgeon only appointment? Just pick up your cellular and call.....

There might not be a definite schedule for follow up visits after major surgery.
However the operating surgeon has the moral obligation to provide in-person follow up after surgery on a regular basis till the patient is completely healed and no major or minor complications. To catch minor complications before they evolve to major problems. And all concerns of the patient are addressed. Pictures alone do not provide enough data. No substitute for an in-person examination and explanation of what are the findings and what to expect in the future.
As a patient must discuss the pre-operative plan, who would do that, and the post-operative follow-up and who is doing that (a secretary or the surgeon)

After rhinoplasty surgery, the doctor controls the patient first day of surgery, the day after and for cast removal one week later. This is routine procedure. However if there is a suspicion about infection, skin vascularity and other big compilations, the follow-up period is more aggressive. So the folllow-up is actually is dependent on patient nose condition.