Why is my nose changing shape 3 years after rhinoplasty? (Photos)

Thank you for your question and sharing your photographs.

All in all, you have an excellent result after your surgery and it most likely compliments your facial features very nicely. The photograph of the nose from the left side when smiling shows the face leaning forward and a false impression of the tip dropping more significantly. This is not showing on the photograph taken from the right.

You are right in saying that the progressive reduction of the swelling is now revealing the underlying shape and brings also more definition to the nasal tip.

The changes often stabilise around 3 years following your surgery. There does not seem to be anything wrong with your nasal shape and it seems like you will have a very good, long lasting outcome.

Is swelling and scar tissue resolving? In the early period following Rhinoplasty, the first several weeks there is swelling, particularly in the tip area. This swelling is fluid accumulated in the soft tissue as a result of the surgical trauma. As the swelling resolves, a layer of scar tissue forms underneath the skin over the first several weeks. This is normal. This scar issue then takes over a year to resolve depending on the individual person, the thickness of the skin, and other factors. So even after a year tiny changes in the area of the tip and the area above the tip called the supratip occur. this usually results in more definition of the tip which includes more “show“ of the underlying Cartlidge and may develop a slight depression in the supratip area which is usually considered a good thing cosmetically. It does not mean that anything is going wrong with your nose most people prefer the more defined look of your three-year photo than the less defined tip of the one-year photo.

Only on the basis of in person consultation one could make proper evaluation and give you advise; such a subtle deformities are very hard to discuss based on photos. Regarding dimple/depression of the supra-tip area, it can easily be treated with small amount of filler. Cartilage particle can be removed with simple procedure in local anesthesia. Good luck.