Rhinoplasty Recovery

One of the most important aspects of any cosmetic surgery is the recovery process. Remember while it is done to improve your look, it is actually a sort of trauma to your body. A nose job is similar to getting punched very hard in directly in the nose.  We are going to discuss some of the important aspects of rhinoplasty recovery so that you can have a full understanding of what you can expect after your procedure.

When you are having the surgery done you can normally go home the day of the procedure. You will definitely not be able to drive yourself so ensure that you have someone to drive you home.  After the surgery you will be out of it or groggy from the medications and anesthesia. Once they begin to wear off you will experience your first bits of pain. Your nose will be swollen and generally very tender. Below is a guide for the first week of your recovery.

The first 24 hours after Rhinoplasty:

The first 24 hours are very important in the rhinoplasty recovery process. Below is what you need to do along with what to expect.

• Stay in bed- you should not be moving around much
• Sleep or rest with head elevated
• Your face will feel very puffy
• You might have a headache that isn’t pounding but constant
• Your nose will hurt
• You can take pain medication that your doctor will prescribe
• Some people feel sick and vomiting happens for some. This is normal following this procedure.

Days 2 to 5 after Rhinoplasty:

• Small blood spots may come from your nose which is normal
• Bruising will be more visible
• Get rest and do not do any strenuous type activity
• Your pain level shouldn’t increase, but if it does talk to your doctor and you might be able to get a stronger pain medication

1 Week and Beyond:

• If your operation required stitches they will be removed
• All splints that are put in your nose to hold shape will be removed
• Your nose will be swollen. It can last for weeks and some residual swelling will last for a few months.

Rhinoplasty Precautions During Recovery

If you ask any person who has had rhinoplasty about long term recovery and they will mention swelling. This is one side effect that takes a while to subside. Some patients have swelling for 6 months after the procedure. Most of it will dissipate within a few weeks which is good news for you. There are a few things you can do to actively help the swelling decrease.

• Cold Compress- Normally cold helps with swelling which is no different when it comes to your nose. Make sure you speak with your surgeon to ensure he/she wants you to use a cold compress.
• Low Sodium Intake- Doctors recommend that you have a lower sodium diet which helps to lower the swelling.
• Rest is key- Our bodies were designed to heal themselves, and most of that work is done while we sleep. We actually shut or slow down the function of many parts of our body so that it can focus on rebuilding or repairing our body. So make sure you get adequate rest which will help the healing process and the swelling decrease.
• Drink Water- Most doctors will tell you that being dehydrated is one of the worst things for you. It is also a major factor in slow recovery times. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and you will recover faster.
• No Nose Blowing- it is absolutely a non negotiable thing after your surgery. It may feel like you constantly need to blow your nose, but refrain from the activity. Most patients have found that some sort of decongestant actually helps with this.
• No Smoking- Most people don’t know that smoking actually hinders the recovery of your body. Many surgeons will have you quit smoking for 1 month before and at least 1 month after your rhinoplasty surgery.
• No Physical Activity- This does not mean you can’t walk around or anything extreme like that. It simply means that you should refrain from any activity where your nose could be put in harm’s way like sports. Any sort of trauma to your nose will increase the swelling and could cause you to have to see your doctor.

As we mentioned earlier blowing your nose is something that you can’t do. We mention this again because during your first week or so it will be very hard to breathe through your nose. This makes many patients want to try to clear the problem up, but blowing your nose will not solve this. Also you should not return to normal activities like work for a solid week. If you job is really demanding we recommend taking more time off. The more time you have to rest the faster you are going to heal.

It takes approximately one full year for your nose to be fully healed. During this year many surgeons will recommend that you stay away from sports. If you are a die- hard sports junkie this is something you need to take into consideration before having this procedure. You will have to choose which is more important to you, your new nose or your love of sports. 

Also do not freak out over little differences in your nose during the healing process. At times different parts of your nose will heal at different rates so it is normal. One thing to watch out for is signs of infections which generally show themselves in the form of fevers. If you develop a fever after your procedure, make sure you contact your doctor to get antibiotics.

Hopefully this helped you to understand what to expect during the rhinoplasty recovery stage. Make sure you follow this and any instructions that your surgeons gives you. By doing this your recovery time will be dramatically lowered and you will be good as new in a short period of time.