Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty - Too Hasty About Judging Results?

Once the cast is removed, it takes a trained eye to interpret the results and distinguish swelling from irregularity. The healing process of a nose is dynamic so it will change over the course of months and years. Overtime, hopefully your nose change in a more positive direction.

It’s not unusual for patients undergoing rhinoplasty and septoplasty to have prolonged swelling. Several factors including the use of open rhinoplasty, fracture of the nasal bones, thickness of the nasal skin, and a previous rhinoplasty have been associated with prolonged swelling.
                Most patients will note significant swelling for about two to three weeks following surgery. After two weeks, most patients are comfortable resuming their normal lives and going out in public.

                Swelling will persist in most patients for at least one year following surgery, with the nasal tip being the last site to experience resolution. In the immediate post-operative period, nasal splints, elevation of the head, and ice can be used to minimize swelling. It’s important to maintain good communication with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to reassure you and alleviate your anxiety. 

The initial recovery after your rhinoplasty is the time when your nose looks most swollen as a reaction to the work that has recently been done. 11 days, as you mentioned, is still way too early to judge the results of your procedure. A patient’s nose can continue to change as swelling decreases, and it can take up to a full year for the end results to materialize. I would advise you to not worry very much about how your new nose looks yet, as you are still in the early stages of recovery. Should you still feel uneasy about your results after about one or two months, consult your doctor and schedule a follow-up visit to make sure your healing process is proceeding according to plan. 

This is quite a bit too early to judge results. Rhinoplasty swelling can take a long time (weeks/months) to go down. Small (millimeter) changes in swelling can make a big difference, so be patient. Share you concerns with your surgeon and let him/her guide you through the healing process.

You may still be bruised. Bruising if present takes two weeks to clear. your swelling will be around for six months before its all done. However a significant part of it will have resolved within the first several weeks. At that time you can usually tell how your nose is going to look when 'all the dust has settled'. Its frustrating. But there is little you can do to speed things up, although there are several things that will slow down the healing process.

During the first several weeks, following rhinoplasty, the nose undergoes significant changes as the swelling subsides. The swelling gradually dissipates over the first several months and thus the appearance of the nose changes gradually. The swelling can fluctuate on a daily basis,and different areas of the nose may retain swelling longer than others. This often gives the nose an uneven appearance.
Be patient. As the swelling goes down, the appearance should improve. Visit with you surgeon early about your concerns so that any issues can be addressed at the appropriate times.