Q: I had a rhinoplasty refining the tip and using ear cartilage to add to the bridge. My nose looks like it comes from forehead directly. My bulbous tip is higher than the rest of the nose – my profile is not straight. It looks like saddle nose or a boot. It’s 10 days now, but there is not much of a difference. I’ve never seen this level of swelling in other people’s pictures before. Do you think it’s swelling or a deficiency of the surgery?
A: Augmentation of the nasal dorsum (bridge) often results in significant edema and swelling. For some patients it will take 3-6 months for the majority of the swelling to resolve, and especially for you at 10 days post-surgery, you can expect the bridge will settle and lower. The radix – the portion of your bridge connected to your forehead – will lower as the swelling resolves.
