Can Prolonged Swelling Affect the Final Rhinoplasty Result?

After rhinoplasty, the skin of the nose has to adjust to the new structure below.  During this phase, severe or prolonged swelling will delay and may hinder complete adjustment of the skin to the underlying cartilage and bone, resulting in unpredictable shape.

During the healing phase after rhinoplasty it is a good idea to limit physical activity, control irritants like sun and trauma, and avoid any drugs (even over the counter) that may increase bleeding or prolong swelling.

Prolonged swelling does to things. First it is distressing to patients. Second it allow scar tissue to possibly build up in the edematous skin and mar the result. If you are sensitive to sodium then watching it carefully is a simple solution for you. You have a lot invested in this so do everything you can to aid the healing.

IMHO, prolonged swelling after Rhinoplasty can occur within the nasal tissues.  This chronic swellineventually gets replaced with scar tissue.  Scar tissue tends to add thickness and blunt the shaped and scupted nasal structures below giving the nose a bloated, rounded appearance.  High salt content, in the diet, tends to cause water retention which could increase swelling in the nose.