Help! Upturned Tip 4 Days Post Rhinoplasty

Question

I had rhinoplasty 3 days ago. Had a good nose already, and wanted only very minor shaping done - a small bony bit removed from the right side of my bridge, and asked for advice on my tip - which i felt wasn't supported when i smiled. Surgeon suggested a cartilage implant in the tip (taken from my ear). I said I was concerned as I didn't want an upturned nose. He said that, at most, it would raise the tip 1mm. Now, day 3 and I have a pig nose, and totally distressed. Can I get it removed??

Steven J. Pearlman, MD, FACS · Answer

Right before I send all rhinoplasty patients home after surgery I warn them that when they look in the mirror, the tip of their nose may look too high or "piggy." This results from stitches inside as well as from the tape we use on the outside to support the nasal tip cartilages as they heal. So, don't worry if your nose tilts upward immediately following rhinoplasty. The tip may drop for up to a number of weeks to months after surgery. I tell patients to pretend they are vampires: avoid mirrors for a month!

Howard Webster, MBBS (Hons), FRACS · Answer

Hi there.  It looks normal for 3 days postop.  IT has been taped high under the splint to hold it up and your lip is swollen.

	Don't worry. You won't have a pig nose.  YOu're just 3 days post op that's all and you look normal for that.

	Good luck.

Burak Alhan, MD · Answer

Almost all the tips of the noses look more upright than they are because of the support of the tapes, as well the stitches inside,and the swelling. So the fact here is that, you have started to look in the mirror 1000 times more a day since you have just had a big change in the center of the face. That would really be  a waste of your energy to evaluate your nose when it is still under a splint and taped up on post-operative day 3. Keep calm, do not get trapped to what you see in the mirror and trust the fact that the end result of your nose will not show before 6 months,probably even more.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

It is common practice to heavily tape the tip of the nose after a rhinoplasty to help control swelling. It is virtually impossible to judge at this point how the shape of your nose will turn out. How the tip appears with the tape on is a false indication of the outcome. Even when the tapes come off, the tip may still initially look a little high. It is going to take months before you can judge the shape of the tip of your nose. You should not really critique before 6 months after surgery. Rhinoplasty requires great patience and tolerance from the patient as the final result is an evolving process not an instantaneous one.

David A. Bray, Sr., MD · Answer

At this point it appears that your tip is being held up by the tape. Wait until all dressings are off and a little time has passed. Consult your sugeon.

Help! Upturned Tip 4 Days Post Rhinoplasty

Answers (6)