Do Spreader Grafts Make the Nose Wider?

At two weeks post-op from a rhinoplasty, your nose will look very wide due to the swelling. I would be reassured that it is not necessarily a result of the spreader grafts. 

Spreader grafts are often a very good idea after taking a dorsal hump down in order to prevent over-narrowing and collapse down the road. They do widen the middle third of the nose by a couple of millimetre, but this area of the nose often needs a bit of extra width both from a breathing and an appearance perspective. 

I know it is hard, but try and be patient. Hopefully as the swelling goes down over the next few months, you will be happy with the way the nose looks as well as the way you breathe. 

Spreader grafts can make the nose appear slightly wider. However, much of what you are seeing is due to swelling. The swelling can influence the appearance of the nose after surgery, and will take some time to resolve. 70% of the swelling goes down after the first 3 months and the remainder goes down over time. In general, it can take 18-24 months to see the final result of surgery. I would recommend waiting a bit and see how you continue to heal. Your surgeon should be able to answer any questions you have in the meantime. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck with the remainder of your recovery. 

Spreader grafts placed to improve airway. Generally they have no effect on the with of the nose. Thicker spreader grafts can increase the width.