“A patient's final result may take several months to be fully realized due to swelling. Even the best outcome can look distorted and disappointing at first when you're swollen and black and blue. Hang in there! Things can look dramatically different once the swelling has fully subsided.”
Swelling and unactualized results may make your nose seem too big, too short, look the same as it did before, look fat, or feel weird after rhinoplasty. This can lead to post-rhinoplasty depression – but if you let yourself heal, you will find you have options to improve your results.
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.
If the shape of the nose deviates from this significantly after surgery, it may look unnatural and artificial. Most commonly, this occurs with aggressive reduction rhinoplasty in which the bridge is lowered too much to scoop the nose, the tip is over-elevated, and the nostrils pinched inward.
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.
Rhinoplasty Results After one Month (4 Weeks)
People look very good at 1-month. There is little evidence that the patient had any surgery at that point. Again, remember your nose at 1 month is very good, at 2 months it is even better.
Often patients who undergo rhinoplasty in Toronto find that the lips and smile may seem different after a rhinoplasty. This is because sometimes, when extensive work is done, the muscles that are responsible for pulling up the upper lip when you smile, are temporarily weakened.
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. Without the initial over-rotation, you might end up with a drooping nose.
If a patient is not satisfied with his or her rhinoplasty results, it is important to consult with the nose job surgeon who performed the procedure. At this time, a patient and surgeon can explore revision rhinoplasty surgery.
Swelling after rhinoplasty is the norm and your photos show what appears to be quite a bit of swelling. This will gradually dissipate over several months. You can expect the majority of the swelling to go down during the first 12 weeks and then gradual change over the first year to your final result.
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.
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.
The simple answer is no, laughing or smiling is not likely to ruin your rhinoplasty if you do it in moderation. However, if you laugh or smile too hard, it can put unnecessary strain on your incisions and cause them to open up. It's important to be mindful of this and take it easy for the first few weeks after surgery.
Rhinoplasty might change the shape, size, appearance, projection or a combination of these elements depending on the needs of the patient. The lips, chin, cheeks and other facial features remain intact unless you undergo other procedures.
Any changes in the smile typically resolve themselves as the nose heals. Because it can take up to 12 months for the nose to fully settle into its new form, the smile may feel a little stiff for some months.
If you're considering a rhinoplasty (or nose job), you've probably heard a lot of horror stories about botched procedures. In fact, around 10 percent of first-time rhinoplasty procedures result in a second rhinoplasty down the road.
Rhinoplasty failure occurs in only 5- to 10 percent of cases. Reasons that patients may consider revision rhinoplasty include: The outcome of the initial procedure does not suit the face. Healing did not occur as expected.
Your nose may remain tender or sensitive to touch, however, for up to three months.
If work was done at the base of your nose or at the bottom of the columella (skin bridge between the nostrils), swelling in the area can affect the lip and cause it to drop a bit temporarily. As the swollen columella heals, which can take a few months, the lip will return to a normal position.
Rhinoplasty can influence the appearance of the upper lip and make it look longer, but it does not actually change the height. If you express interest in making your upper lip more visible, your facial plastic surgeon may rotate or change the position of the nasal tip during a rhinoplasty procedure.
Rhinoplasty does not change your eye. You are still very early and likely have a fair amount of swelling along the sides of the nasal bone and osteotomy site which will make your eyes look smaller. You will see a big change in 2-4 weeks.
For the first two weeks following surgery, avoid pursing the lips as in whistling, applying lipstick, kissing, or sucking on a straw. Allowing the nose to heal with as little movement as possible will improve both your cosmetic and functional results.
One potential cause for bulbous appearance of the nose is the development of scar tissue at the nasal tip. This does not occur right away, but rather may develop over time. Sometimes injection of steroid may be of benefit. You may wish to consider consulting with your original surgeon.
A slight upturn of the nose after rhinoplasty is common and should not be of concern. This upturn is mostly due to swelling and should improve as this resolves. Keeping your head elevated and limiting activities will help. With time this should improve.