At three months, almost all swelling has gone down permanently, and the nose looks basically like the final result. It will take a year or two for the nose to totally settle into its new structure, but at three months, the vast majority of rhinoplasty recovery is complete.
Answer: One year for full healing after a rhinoplasty
The skin does tend to shrink wrap over the new cartilaginous framework after a rhinoplasty, and management of the skin tissue envelope is part of the postoperative care by your original surgeon. Tape, cortisone shots and a low salt diet will also help.
Thicker skin will take longer than thinner skin to tighten. Sometime a small dose of steroid injected directly onto the top of the nose may help swelling & skin tightening. Gentle massage may help a bit too. Speak to your rhinoplasty surgeon to see what can be done to help the healing process.
Thick skin rhinoplasty generally takes longer to recover. While thin-skin rhinoplasty usually takes about six months to a year to heal, thick skin rhinoplasty patients often take one to two years for the tip to completely heal.
How Long Will Swelling Last After Rhinoplasty? The initial swelling from surgery will be worst within the first week and should have subsided after about 10 days. However, some slight swelling due to fluid retention can remain for several months and up to a year after your surgery.
Every patient is different, so recovery times vary, but generally speaking, most patients can expect to look “normal” after about three to four weeks, with a small amount of residual swelling and tenderness lasting about three months — though it is usually only noticeable to the patient themselves.
Taping can be effective to subside the swelling and shrink the skin down. It doesn't, however, affect the shape and form of the nose.
Six weeks after your procedure, the cartilage and bones in your nose will be fully settled. At this time, there will be no restrictions on the exercise you can perform.
Swelling After Surgery
Generally, swelling is the most common reason why your nose looks bigger after rhinoplasty, which is completely normal. As a general rule, half of the swelling in the nasal tip will be gone after a month, but it will take at least a year for the tip to reach its final shape.
The tip takes the longest time to heal and mold to the new framework because it's the thickest skin of the nose. If the tip of your nose is still very firm, it may mean that there is still some swelling.
Over the years, after rhinoplasty, your nose may appear to get smaller and thinner because the thickness of your skin changes with time. As some of the underlying fatty tissue of your skin gets depleted with age and sun exposure, the skin gets thinner. This issue can be corrected non-surgically with injectable fillers.
Gently pressure and massage may be appropriate after rhinoplasty. The bridge, middle, or tip of the nose may be massaged. Scar tissue softens and swollen tissue is reduced with any massage of the skin. Pressure that is too forceful may shift and move the nasal bones and cartilage.
Answer: Nose will not continue to shrink after rhinoplasty
Following rhinoplasty, the nose will continue to change over the course of up to one year. After this point, the nose will not likely change further, other than natural aging.
Smiling and laughing 2 weeks after a Rhinoplasty should not have any impact on the final result.
If the nose taping process is not followed as directed, it could lead to: Nose deformity. Extended healing time. Additional complications.
After about 6 weeks your nose will be roughly as strong as it was before the operation. The strength of the nose returns faster than the sensitivity subsides. So, even though the nose may be quite strong, it will still feel quite delicate and sensitive to the touch.
For the first few weeks after surgery your nose may appear larger than it was before surgery because of the swelling, which will gradually subside. This process is typically complete 6-12 months after surgery though some patients have reported swelling continuing to go down up to 18 months after.
It may come as a surprise, but most will not notice the change in your nose after rhinoplasty. Friends and family will know that you look well, though for some reason many just don't pick up the fact that your nose is different.
Answer: Scrunching nose
Scrunching your nose should not be a problem. The soft tissue over your nose can be quite stiff early post-op.
How Much Will My Tip Drop After Rhinoplasty? Your tip should drop between five and ten degrees after rhinoplasty. This drop is due to gravitational pull and your incisions tightening. Any drop that is greater than that means there may have been a surgical complication.
After a rhinoplasty procedure, don't be surprised if your smile is temporarily affected by post-operative swelling. The effect is temporary and your smile will return to normal after the initial swelling has dissipated. This may take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.
The first week is the most critical period for rhinoplasty healing. After 7-10 days, patients can begin to use other sleeping positions. Be careful to avoid putting pressure on the nose, and if you can sleep comfortably on your back while elevated, continue to do so.
Make sure you pull the tape very tightly on the skin and then attach the sides down to the cheek. Keep in mind the whole idea is to compress the skin down onto the underlying bone and cartilage. Once the first piece of tape is securely placed, you can start going down (or up) the nasal bridge with more pieces.
After rhinoplasty surgery, your nose will be extra vulnerable as a result of the changes made to this structure. Your bones, cartilage, and surrounding tissues will be more fragile as they heal, sometimes for up to a year after surgery.