How Will Nose Look 6 Weeks After An Open Rhinoplasty?

It all depends on what you'll be having done. If the surgery is minor, then you may find swelling and bruising at a minimum and get away with your surgery being undetected. However, it is not uncommon for swelling and bruising to still be prominent at 6 weeks. Follow your surgeon's care instructions to help expedite your recovery.

Hi Carlos-

I think you will do well traveling to Europe 6 weeks after an open rhinoplasty. At 3 weeks about 80% of your swelling should be gone. You most likely will still have tip swelling, but that will probably not be noticable to new people you meet. Enjoy your trip!

Sincerely,

Tom Kaniff

Generally speaking, the initial healing phase after an open rhinoplasty approach should only take about three weeks.  Most individuals will be able to go to black tie function at that point so a trip to Europe should be fine about six weeks after your surgery.

6 weeks after rhinoplasty or nasal surgery, your breathing should be back to normal if not significantly improved.  Approximately 60%-70% of the swelling should have subsided and your nasal scar should be almost imperceptible.  Your nose after rhinoplasty at 6 weeks may still be a little sore if it gets bumped and you may still have some numbness and stiffness around the tip.  You should be back to full work out activity.  You will be completely presentable and no one should notice anything other than your eyes, lips, and hair - the features your want them to concentrate on!  Good luck.  

I tell my patients it takes four weeks the significant swelling to be resolved.  At three months enough swelling is gone such that the finer detail start to become apparent.  However, it takes a full year to get the best sense for the final results.  With that said most of my patients are very presentable at 1-2 weeks. 

It's hard to say how noticeable your surgery will be 6 weeks after surgery. A lot depends on what is being done, your anatomy, skin thickness, etc. I do find that following a low sodium (1500 mg a day or less) diet helps quite a bit with postoperative tissue swelling.

Your tip skin would certainly have swelling in it, but it you have relatively thin skin this may not be noticeable. Ask your surgeon to get more specific thoughts.

After 2 weeks, all bruising is usually gone and incision is starting to fade. Tip swelling is significant. At 6 weeks, the patient can resume all activities, including vigorous exercise and sports. Although it generally takes 3 months for half the initial swelling to go away, 6 weeks is certainly a reasonable recovery period for travel and socializing. You will still have some numbness of the nasal tip. The incision should be hard to see if you're not looking for it. I have had patients embark on similar plans after 3 weeks with no problems.

Much though not all of the nasal swelling will have subsided by 6 weeks after a rhinoplasty so don't worry. The scar may still be slightly red however. Understand that the appearance of your nose at 6 weeks is not the final result which actually can take up to a year or more to see.

By four weeks after rhinoplasty, we allow full physical activity and you should look very well, by six weeks, even better. The tip will be slightly stiff for several more weeks though you should look great for travel or work.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd

This is a great question.  While it may take several months to see the final results of your rhinoplasty, you should be presentable for social situations after 7-10 days.  The bandages usually come off between 5-7 days after surgery and sutures may be removed at this time.  The time-line I typically give is:


Day 1-2     Feeling tired from anesthesia, but able to walk around.

Day 5        Sutures and bandages removed

Day 7-10   Restaurant Ready Swollen but socially presentable

Month 3    Half way there, 50% of results visible

Month 6    75% of results evident

Month 12  95% of results are seen


So at 6 weeks you should be looking great.  Good luck in your search for information!