KOWON Blog
Week 1 after rhinoplasty — my glabella looks high and my eyes seem drawn in: why it's too early to judge
A question about a high-looking glabella and changed impression from an eye-drawn phenomenon at week 1 — that right after surgery the whole nose is swollen and far from its real shape, why glabella swelling lasts especially long, and the advice to consult the operating team after swelling subsides.
Key points
- At one week post-surgery, the whole nose is swollen — the visible shape is far from the real nose shape.
- Especially swelling in the glabella between the eyes lasts long — while swollen, the nose looks upturned and the glabella looks high.
- Rather than deciding something like silicone removal now, the answer's conclusion is to see the shape after swelling leaves and consult the operating team.
"It's been about a week since surgery — my glabella area is too high, there's an eye-drawn-in phenomenon, and I keep hearing my impression changed. If I take out the silicone and ear cartilage, will my nose go back to original?"
This is a question Dr. Hyung-taek Kim of KOWON Plastic Surgery answered on Naver Knowledge iN. The questioner's bridge wasn't originally low, so they wanted only shape refinement without heightening — and after consultation, decided to put in just 3mm of silicone. But after surgery it looked high starting above the glabella, and the tip looked more upturned than the slight curve they'd wanted — reaching the point of considering silicone removal. Based on that answer, this article organizes whether the shape right after surgery can be judged now.
01
The nose shape at week 1 — can it be trusted as-is?
The premise of the answer is timing. At one week post-surgery, the whole nose is swollen — so the shape now visible is far from the real nose shape.
The changes the questioner worried about overlap with what's commonly seen while swollen.
- While swollen after surgery, the nose looks upturned — possibly why the curve looked stronger than wanted.
- While swollen, the glabella looks high — overlapping with the part that felt like the silicone started above the glabella.
02
Why did the eye-drawn-in phenomenon occur?
What upset the questioner most was that eyes they'd always been told were pretty looked different. The answer explains this too in connection with the area's characteristics.
| Check point | Content |
|---|---|
| Feature of glabella swelling | Swelling in the glabella between the eyes **lasts long** |
| The look visible now | When the glabella is swollen and looks high, the eye-area impression can change together |
| Recommended response | Wait about another week, then check the shape after swelling leaves |
In other words, concluding the week-1 eye-drawn look and impression change as the final result is too early. How swelling subsides by period can be seen in the recovery guide.
03
When is it decided whether silicone should come out?
The questioner even asked whether removing both silicone and ear cartilage would return the original nose. But the answer puts the order in place before discussing removal.
- 01Wait about another week — right now is a period when swelling is covering the result.
- 02See the nose shape after swelling disappears — the shape visible then becomes the basis for judgment.
- 03Consult the operating medical team — for remaining worries, discussing directly with the surgeon who operated comes first.
The answer's conclusion was that even if it's unsatisfying now, wait until the swelling fully leaves.
04
Summary — don't decide based on the pre-deswelling shape
When the mirror right after surgery differs from expectations, the urge to reverse it can come first. But at week 1 the whole nose is swollen — and glabella swelling lasts longest among them. The upturned-looking tip, the high-looking glabella, even the drawn-in eye impression — changes visible in this period are greatly influenced by swelling. The order is judging after swelling leaves, together with the operating team.
If there's a worrying part in recovery, an opinion on the current state can be heard in a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
At week 1, concluding is premature. Right after surgery the whole nose is swollen and far from its real shape — and glabella swelling especially lasts long. It's good to check the post-swelling look together with the operating team before judging.
While swollen after surgery, the nose looks upturned and the glabella looks high — so this period's upturned look is hard to read as the final shape. Checking the post-swelling shape together with the operating team is good.
This answer recommended waiting about another week for swelling to leave, then consulting the operating team — before judging removal. While swollen, the very grounds for deciding removal aren't accurate.
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.
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