Uneven swelling: 3 months since I had my rhinoplasty done. (photo)

Question

Hi! I'm confused if my nose is crooked or its just an uneven swelling. Is it normal that my nose looks a bit crooked or more turned to the left duo to the swelling? I thought it would be by shrinking my now.

J. Phillip Garcia, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,
Swelling always recedes in an asymmetric fashion.  One side improves faster than the other.  This fact remains throughout your entire recovery.  The resolution of swelling is also non-linear.  This means that there are certain points in your recovery where the swelling goes away faster than others.  Everyone is different with respect to these two issues.  Be patient and seek the reassurance of your surgeon.
Regards,

Victor Chung, MD · Answer

Recovering from rhinoplasty is a healing process. Part of that process is waiting for swelling to go down to see your result. 
  
In the first 6-8 weeks the majority of swelling will go down. Over the next 6-9 months you'll experience a downward trending rollercoaster of swelling going up and down depending on your exposure to heat, sun, or salt. At one year, you're close to your final result; however, the nose is known to continue healing and refining by very small amounts for years after that. At 3 months you're starting the 2nd phase of healing.
The swelling commonly goes down in an uneven way. First one side and then the other goes down, which may give the appearance of a crooked nose until the other side catches up. The tip is the last area to settle down. It's important to follow your surgeon's instructions and keep your follow-up appointments so your surgeon can track your progress toward a safe and happy outcome. Safety comes first.

Justin Wudel, MD · Answer

Hi there - I tell my patients that even after 3 months there is still 10-15% of the swelling remaining.  It could be uneven swelling that will continue to resolve over the next several months.  If the unevenness is still present at 6 months I would discuss this with your surgeon as there might be minor tweaks that could be performed in the office if the nose has not settled to your liking.

Uneven swelling: 3 months since I had my rhinoplasty done. (photo)

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Uneven swelling: 3 months since I had my rhinoplasty done. (photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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