Had Rhinoplasty yesterday. Tip looks very pinched and turned up. Is that normal?

Question

I am probably being silly trying to figure out what my nose looks like with the splint still on. However it's weird that you can see in my nose pretty easily and it looks so pinched , but is this just because the splint is doing its job? Also, do I not clean up my face for a week? Eyes bleed a little from the blephoroplasty.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

It is very common for the nose to look pinched and upturned during the acute healing phase after a rhinoplasty. The swelling in the nose commonly makes the nose looked upturned, and the splint can make the nose look pinched. It is going to take at least a few weeks for you to get a good idea on the ultimate results of your rhinoplasty. Patience is key during the healing process so I would not jump to any conclusions.Good luck on your recovery.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello, Thank you for your question. It's far too early to judge it's appearance, as it is difficult to determine as swelling may last several months. I'd recommend speaking with your with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your concerns at your next follow-up appointment. Take care.

John Layke, DO, FACS · Answer

Although without photos, it is difficulty for me to perfectly assess what you are describing, the things that you have described are usual postoperative effects.  Due to swelling, the nasal tip may often be "upturned" and slowly drop over the next several weeks.  The external splint is there to help reduce swelling caused by the rhinoplasty and may often create a "pinched" appearance if tipwork was performed.  Do not touch the splint unless instructed by your surgeon for the first week, as you do not want to alter the results.  Lastly, a small amount of oozing from a blepharoplasty incision may be normal; if it persists, contact your surgeon.

Thomas McFadden, MD · Answer

One day is far too early to tell. I frequently caution my patients that they need to wait six months and even as long as two years to see the final results. The application of the splint itself is going to cause abnormal pinching and elevation of the nasal tip. Even after splint removal, it may not settle for several months. You really should let the dust settle before reevaluation to ensure that you're not re-shooting at a moving target. I wish you the best.

Gustavo A. Diaz, MD · Answer

This is normal. 24 hours after surgery is extremely too early to judge your results. Keep following your surgeon recommendations.Hope this helps,Dr. Gus Diaz

Had Rhinoplasty yesterday. Tip looks very pinched and turned up. Is that normal?

Answers (5)