What are the stages of swelling after rhinoplasty?

Get a swelling timeline from your surgeon

A swelling timeline for your nose should come from your surgeon, stage by stage, set down for your case.

Dated questions and a photo log

Ask your surgeon to describe swelling in plain, dated terms. Useful questions are: what should I see in the first days, what over the first weeks, and when will I know the shape has settled? Also ask what counts as normal and what means you should call.

Take photos on a schedule your surgeon approves, in the same light and from the same angles. Bring the photo series to follow-up visits and ask about any change you notice.

A hospital system's page on rhinoplasty and a national health service page on nose reshaping, or rhinoplasty are places to prepare questions for your own surgeon.

If you live around Redmond, think about your calendar. If a wedding, a work event or travel is coming up, tell the surgeon early and ask how that fits with healing. Ask how many follow-up visits to expect and whether they are in your quote.

Keeping swelling notes in one place

Before surgery, write down your surgeon's answers on swelling and the number to call with a concern. After surgery, keep your photo log and notes in one place and bring them to every visit.

Call about any swelling concern

Call your surgeon about any concern, and do not wait for a scheduled visit if something seems wrong.