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RHINOPLASTY
HEALING
IN ST. LOUIS, MO

RHINOPLASTY HEALING
RESULTS

“When will I see my final

results? It has been 3 days/3
weeks/3 months, and my nose
isn’t what I had expected. Is
this the best it will get?”

While most people undergoing

rhinoplasty have learned, either through
research or from their surgeon, that final
results take 1-2 years, many do not know
exactly what that means. Below are some
facts about the normal process of
rhinoplasty recovery after a
#NOSEBYNAYAK.

HEALING AFTER RHINOPLASTY

RHINOPLASTY
SWELLING TIMELINE
WITH PHOTOS

1 WEEK:

At one week, your splint will be

removed. Expect your nose to look
“too fat” and “too up!” If you are
having your profile changed
significantly, expect to be able to
see much of the improvement at
the bridge at this point – especially
if a large hump was removed. On
front view, you may feel like your
nasal tip, the fronts of your cheeks,
and your upper lip look fat, wide,
stiff, or swollen. Bruising ranges from
none (50% of patients), to mild
(40%), to moderate (10%) – as in the
example below. Exaggeration of
minor asymmetries by uneven
swelling is common. Fine tuning of
shape with injections, taping at
night, or specific massage
techniques are utilized at this visit
about 20% of the time.

4-6 WEEKS:

Your next visit will be about a

month later, at 4-6 weeks postop.
Most patients are becoming very
excited about the shape of their
nose by this time, and are noticing
marked improvements in the shape
and position of their tip on a weekly
basis. While most patients feel they
look great at this stage, some with
thicker skin, or who have
undergone revision surgery, may
have significant residual swelling. In
no case is the shape at this point
“final” – there is still a lot of swelling
resolution and tissue remodeling to
come! Exaggeration of minor
asymmetries by uneven swelling is
beginning to resolve. Fine tuning of
shape with injections or specific
massage techniques are utilized at
this visit about 10% of the time.

3-4 MONTHS:

At this visit, your tip is beginning to

show more and more refinement.
The real art of rhinoplasty is seen in
creating elegance of the tip, and
hints of this elegance are now
starting to become apparent. While
the nose is not as delicate as it will
be at 1-2 years, most people would
feel comfortable appearing for
important photographs, such as
senior photos or wedding photos,
by this point. In many cases, this is
the last visit necessary for
rhinoplasty follow up. Injections,
taping, and massage are rarely
indicated at this stage.

6 MONTHS, 1 YEAR, 2
YEARS:

Visits are offered at these stages on

an as-needed basis, and most
patients find them unnecessary.
Over this time, final results become
apparent, and you will be able to
truly enjoy your rhinoplasty – by
forgetting you ever had it. Your
nose will seem like it has always
been a part of your face, and
looking back on your old nose in
photos will seem foreign.

model - not actual patient

SOMETIMES,
RECOVERY TAKES
LONGER…

Factors that can prolong

complete resolution of
swelling include:

Thicker skin, oily skin, or personal

tendency towards easy bruising or
swelling.
Revision surgery – primary rhinoplasty
heals most quickly, as described in the
timeline above. Revision surgery can take
up to twice as long.
Dramatic reduction of the size of the
nose. No skin is removed during
rhinoplasty, so the proportionately larger
skin envelope will take longer to remodel
to the new, smaller nasal framework.

EXAMPLE OF
THE RECOVERY
PROCESS

Erin, above demonstrates

several concerns that are
routinely addressed in
rhinoplasty. She was
confident and beautiful
even before her surgery,
and most laypeople
would not understand
why she would seek
rhinoplasty.

She, however, like many people,

was bothered by a slight dorsal
hump, a slightly droopy/soft nasal
tip, and wide nostrils. She felt all of
those features were accentuated
when she smiled, and detracted
from her eyes, smile, and overall
appearance. The photos above,
and in the document attached,
show her personal recovery journey
as demonstrated through selfies
taken at various stages during her
recovery. At one week, you can
appreciate a better profile.

But marked
doughiness/roundness/elevation of
the tip. Her smile is stiff, and her
cheeks and lip are swollen. She is
also among the most bruised
patients Dr. Nayak has seen at 1
week. By 1 month, most of the
cheek and lip swelling has resolved,
and the nasal tip shape and
position are much more natural.
Swelling of the tip continues to
improve, and is really fading by the
3.5 month photo. Things look even
better at 6 months, and will
continue to improve or 1-2 years
after surgery.

model - not actual patient

LET NAYAK
PLASTIC
SURGERY BE
PART OF YOUR
STORY
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how easy it is to create a more beautiful you.

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