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.
Three weeks post-rhinoplasty, about 70 percent of swelling is gone. This is the time when a patient starts to recognize the changes and begins to appreciate the new shape of his or her nose. It's ok, actually quite normal, to feel a little self conscious at this time.
Lehman explains. “Ultimately, it takes about six months after an internal approach rhinoplasty, and as long as a year or two after external approach rhinoplasty to see the final result.”
After rhinoplasty, your tip should drop over the next six weeks as swelling reduces and your incisions contract. However, it can sometimes take up to a year to see the full effect of your nose surgery.
The 2nd week
The change is usually immediately apparent although it will be many months before the final result is achieved. It is often an emotional event – seeing the new nose for the first time. Most patients are thrilled but at the same time, the change can initially feel overwhelming.
The reality is that many rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty patients can appear wider at 3 weeks out than they did before surgery. This can be especially noted if grafting was performed as part of your nasal reshaping process. Stay calm and allow the healing process to unfold.
In the first few weeks after the surgery, your nose swelling may make your nose seem crooked. In this condition, it is better to use nose tape to reduce swelling. It is recommended that this be continued for up to two weeks after removing the plaster and then continued only at nights.
If you've accidentally bumped your nose after recently undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure, you should immediately apply a cold compress to help to reduce any swelling.
Although it is difficult, it is extremely important to be patient throughout this process, as the swelling that persists in the tip may cause your nose to appear asymmetrical or bulbous. While this can be frustrating, it is a normal part of the recovery process and the swelling in the tip will continue to dissipate.
Is it normal to not like your nose after rhinoplasty? If you've been watching your rhinoplasty heal over time and you're still thinking “I don't like my nose”, it's not unheard of. As many as 10-15% of cosmetic nose surgeries result in unhappy clients who will choose to undergo a second procedure to fix it.
There are other types of surgeries that, if done flawlessly, may or may not be visible to others. Rhinoplasty is another one of those tricky surgeries that often people don't want noticed, but it really depends on whether the change is significant or not.
Months 6-12: Within a year, most people can see the final results of their rhinoplasty procedure. Any changes that take place during this time are usually quite subtle. Typically, the swelling has gone down, any repositioned cartilage has settled, and the reshaped skin has conformed to the new structure.
It might be several months before you see the full effect of the operation, and up to 6 months for the swelling to completely go. After about a week: Stitches can be removed (unless you had dissolvable stitches). The splint may also be able to come off. At 3 weeks: Bruises, swelling and redness may have faded.
Days 1 to 3
During the first 72 hours after your rhinoplasty, focus on taking it easy and letting your body rest. This is usually when the most tenderness, swelling and bruising will occur.
It is normal to have edema (swelling) of the nose after rhinoplasty. This can last for up to several months.
Luckily, one week post-operatively, it is safe to resume sleeping on your back or side, provided that you are careful to avoid putting pressure on your nose. While it is safe to lie flat on your back or carefully on your side, it is important to understand that doing so may prolong swelling and bruising.
Secondary dropping of the nasal tip ruins more results in rhinoplasty than any other feature of the operation. The result of rhinoplasty is usually satisfactory at the end of the operation, but four to six weeks later we unfortunately observe that the tip occasionally droops.
Another common culprit of increased nose size after rhinoplasty is prolonged swelling of the nasal tip. Because the skin and tissues in the tip of the nose are often much thicker than on the nasal bridge, it typically takes longer for swelling to subside in this area.
A nose upturned after rhinoplasty is mostly due to swelling and should resolve as the nose continues to heal. Keeping the head elevated and limiting activities should help resolve the issue. If the nose is still upturned after a full year, you may need to revisit your surgeon for an assessment.
As your nose heals from rhinoplasty surgery, it will likely be even more fragile and delicate. The nasal structure will return to its maximal strength (85% of the strength it had prior to surgery) in approximately eight weeks, but while it grows stronger, protecting it can save you a trip for a revision rhinoplasty.
Don't touch your nose: Patients should take great care to avoid putting any pressure on their nose, including even touching the nose, for at least 1 – 2 weeks after surgery, or until Dr. Khorsandi advises that it is okay to do so.
Swelling during rhinoplasty recovery
Many factors could cause uneven nostrils for a short period after rhinoplasty surgery. For example, swelling may affect the appearance of each nostril differently. You can rest assured that your nostrils will return to normal size once your nose is fully healed.
The tip of your nose would be debulked of tissue and the nostrils narrows and reshaped. Directly after your rhinoplasty, your nose tip might be over-rotated — the “piggy” look you refer to — but this is a correction your facial plastic surgeon makes so that when the nose heals it drops into a normal position.
Inadequate narrowing of the tip cartilages
During a rhinoplasty, the cartilages in the tip of the nose are usually thinned. If this is not done sufficiently, the nasal tip may still look wide. The truth is that this is NOT a common reason for a residual wide tip.