Three Weeks Post Rhinoplasty – Nose Looks Wider Than Previously

“I had a rhinoplasty procedure nearly 3 weeks ago and now my nose looks wider than it did preoperatively. Is this normal or should I be worried?” This question or a variation of this question is often asked on online rhinoplasty forums. 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. Avoid salty foods as this can aggravate postoperative swelling from rhinoplasty. Any increase in activity around this time can also make the swelling worse. The bottom line is that your nose will take upwards of a year or more to heal completely from a nose reshaping procedure. Three weeks out is relatively early in the big scheme of things. Happy healing.