Nose Looks More Bulbous and Round After Rhinoplasty

It has been about a month since you posted your question. Although I typically advise my patients that it may take 6 months to achieve your final rhinoplasty shape, usually at about 1-2 months my patients are 75% of the way there.
You have likely noticed significant improvements in the swelling. This should continue to improve over the next 2 -3 months.
Good luck!

Hello,The tip of the nose is the last part of the rhinoplasty to heal. The reason that it is puffy is because it is very swollen. It takes 1-3 years for the swelling to fully go down after a rhinoplasty. The tip takes the longest time to heal and mold to the new framework because it is the thickest skin of the nose. The skin over the profile is thinner than the skin over the tip. Be patient and trust your doctor. All the best, Deepak Dugar, MDScarless Rhinoplasty ExpertBeverly Hills, CA 90210

                  The
most likely explanation for your rounded bulbous nasal tip following
rhinoplasty is severe swelling. It’s not unusual for patients to have
significant swelling following rhinoplasty surgery. This swelling
lasts for up to a year and has a dramatic impact on the nasal tip. The nasal
tip is the last area to have resolution of swelling following rhinoplasty.

                  Nasal
tip swelling can be especially pronounced when rhinoplasty is performed using
an open technique. This procedure interrupts the lymphatic drainage of the
nasal tip and causes prolonged swelling.

                  Massage
and taping can help minimize swelling following this procedure. It’s important
that you discuss this issue with your surgeon who can provide you with
reassurance. 

After rhinoplasty, tip shape is typically the last thing to settle before seeing the final result; this can take 12 months or longer. During this time you will notice that the size of your tip decreases as swelling resolves and subtle details and tip definition appear. Additionally, you may notice that your tip derotates and deprojects. At three weeks following rhinoplasty, you are still very early in your recovery. Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. Around the 4-6 week mark, most patients are able to appreciate most of the changes from surgery as a significant amount of swelling has resolved. However, it can take somewhere in and around 12-18 months to see the final results. The areas with thicker skin in the nose such as the tip, alar rims and radix will require longer to settle. Also there appears to be a linear decrease in swelling for the first several months followed by a period where the swelling fluctuates (sometimes little or no swelling and other times more swelling) before the nose settles. Again, after 4-6 weeks, although you will continue to notice changes in your nose, they are subtle and imperceptible to most other people.

Thank you for your question. The reality with rhinoplasty is that swelling takes weeks to months to resolve completely. While the majority of the swelling (for a primary case) will resolve in the first three or four weeks, the rest may take up to 6 or 9 months.  And the final result, after all the settling, etc., is generally between 9 and 12 months. Along the way, massage or even small injections of a steroid can help with swelling. Please stay in close touch with your surgeon, and rest assured that this is normal. Best of luck!

Three weeks after rhinoplasty surgery one can expect significant swelling still present at the tip. In some patients assigned can be  so significant that it appears more bulbous and round after surgery.  During this time, is important to keep your follow-up appointments with your surgeon as a surgeon may recommend steroid injections to help control some of the swelling.

Swelling may be more severe after an open rhinoplasty vs. a closed rhinoplasty. Nonetheless, a surgeon with enough experience in rhinoplasty would advise you to wait approximately one year to see the final results.
The final shape of your nose will be determined by the thickness of your skin, the underlying structural support, and the position of the cartilage.
Although swelling is an important factor, you will generally be able to see early signs of your longterm account in about one month.

We pioneered open rhinoplasty in the US more than 30 years ago. We said then that you trade outstanding exposure for a longer time of tip swelling--so, it will go down each month.
The length, however, probably won't change. You should discuss this with your surgeon.

Hi Gorgeous,
The swelling of the nose after open rhinoplasty takes longer to settle than swelling after endonasal (internal incision) rhinoplasty. This is because the entire skin-soft tissue envelope was elevated off of the underlying cartilage and bone. It takes an extra few weeks for the swelling to resolve, and most of it accumulates in the tip. You should expect improvement with time. Do stay in close contact with your surgeon, and let him/her know your concerns. Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

An open rhinoplasty typically results in a great deal of tip swelling. At three weeks out, your concerns are most probably related to postoperative swelling. Ask your surgeon about a taping regimen to help mold your tip and elevate it. It is a very effective therapy. Rarely, your surgeon has to inject a little steroid if the swelling seems prolonged, but not usually at three weeks postoperative. Hope this helps. Good luck with your nose.