I had open Rhinoplasty 4 months ago. The tip of my nose is still a bit swollen and the columella is still very tender. My question is what is the expected recovery time for the columella to no longer hurt? In the photo you can see Im still swollen. I've always healed quickly from injuries so it was strange to me that Im still hurting at the incision site. Not hurting enough to need a pain killer but enough that when I take off my make up or sneeze and use a kleenex its uncomfortable.
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Answers (8)
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After rhinoplasty when the splint is first removed patients can't help but stare and examine their nose constantly for the first few weeks. As a general rule when I first remove the splint from my patients I advise them that over the next two weeks the swelling will may go down unevenly and...
Although I do feel that use of tape and a splint are important for the 1st week postop, I do not feel that further taping is essential. Swelling, particularly in the nasal tip, takes at least a year to subside whether the nose is taped or not.
In short, yes, the nose definitely continues to change as we age. In general, the cartilages of the nose tend to grow somewhat larger, and the skin often thins out over time. In some cases (typically older men), the skin will actually get thicker, but this is less common in young people.
Nasal...