Is the tip of my nose very swollen 8 months after rhinoplasty? (Photo)

Question

Hello, I had a rhinoplasty in November 2020 to de-project my profile and shave down a small bump. I noticed the surgeon made my nostrils slightly smaller and I believe I have a strut graft. I should also mention I don’t have thick skin. I’m wondering if the tip will get smaller, I have two indents on the side of my tip and it feels pretty round and hard. Thank you

Yannis Alexandrides, MD, FACS · Answer

It is very difficult to answer this question of this kind without having a preoperative picture of how your nose looked before. The only comment I can make is that it looks like the thickness of the skin increased on for that reason swelling can persist for a very long time- I usually ask my patients to wait for the full year to see the final result.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your enquiry and sharing your photographs.

Sometimes the swelling after rhinoplasty can take a long time to settle down and contributes to the firmness of the nasal tip.

You can discuss with your Surgeon regarding steroid injections to see if this swelling can be brought down faster.

Less commonly, treatment with Accutane has been shown to improve the reduction of nasal swelling and increased definition. It is more suitable for people that have a tendency to oily skin and acne and should be prescribed and monitored by a dermatologist as the treatment itself can have significant side-effects.

Stephen Kleid, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

It takes about a year for the post-op swelling to settle, but it is worse and takes longer in patients with thick skin, or oily skin.One or two Steroid injections into the nose, in the surgeon’s “dental chair”, will speed up and enhance the reduction of swelling.

Behrad Elmiyeh, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS (ORL HNS) · Answer

I appreciate your frustration, but you must remain patient until your nose has fully healed, and the skin is fully shrunken. There will be further reduction in the swelling, but none can predict the extent of this reduction. A year after your surgery you will be able to discuss the risks vs the benefit of any revision surgery if indicated at all. It is not advisable to have any revision surgery during this healing period.
Best wishes

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Thank you for the photos and question and if you have concerns I would see my surgeon as he knows what he did and where you are in the healing process.  That said it takes a year for all the swelling that is in a nose to totally resolve after surgery

Dr Corbin

Is the tip of my nose very swollen 8 months after rhinoplasty? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Nose tip

Answer: Nose tip

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.

Is the tip of my nose very swollen 8 months after rhinoplasty? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Nose tip

Answer: Nose tip

Browse related questions

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.