I just had my plastic splints removed today following deviated septum surgery (5 days ago). When does swelling go down?

Question

My left side is nice and clear. My right side is nearly "swelled" shut. Is something wrong? Will the swelling go down soon? What can I do to help swelling go down.

Donald Groves, MD · Answer

Good afternoon. After injury/surgery to the nose, it can become REALLY swollen, and this swelling can take a LONG TIME to resolve (up to 1-2 years to fully resolve). The swelling typically peaks about 72 hours after injury/surgery. After that, it progressively improves, with most swelling gone by 2-3 months. Some minimal swelling can linger for up to 2 years though. You can keep your head elevated as much as possible for the first month postop, but otherwise just give things time. I constantly remind all my rhinoplasty patients how important it is to be patient after rhinoplasty surgery as it can take months to even years to see what the final nose will look like. Hope this helps! Best, Dr. Donald Groves Plastic Surgeon

I just had my plastic splints removed today following deviated septum surgery (5 days ago). When does swelling go down?

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I just had my plastic splints removed today following deviated septum surgery (5 days ago). When does swelling go down?

Answers (1)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.