You may want to see the results of a rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) procedure right away, but the recovery process will take some time. During this time, a number of steps can be taken that will speed up the process and ensure proper healing.
Recovery time after rhinoplasty.
The average recovery time for rhinoplasty is one year. This may seem like a long time, but it becomes a lot more manageable when divided into a time frame. The next steps in recovery from nasal surgery can vary from patient to patient, but something like this usually happens:
1 week after rhinoplasty:The splint applied during rhinoplasty surgery can be removed and can come off without showing any noticeable signs of the nose job, as long as there are no bruises around the eyes. This may take 2 weeks. It is safe to resume daily life.
2 weeks after rhinoplasty:Most of the swelling on the face after rhinoplasty surgery has been reduced and most of the bruising has disappeared.
3-4 weeks after rhinoplasty:You can safely return to normal physical activities such as jogging, swimming, and cycling.
6 weeks after rhinoplasty:The bones are stable, you can resume resistance training (lifting weights), wear glasses, and touch your nose. Minimal injuries are no longer scary.
3-6 months after rhinoplasty:The numbness and unusual sensations in the nasal region should go away.
1 year after rhinoplasty:The healing process is complete - the swelling should disappear completely.
Is there a way to speed up this timeline after nose surgery? In fact, there are many things you can do to make your nose job recovery more smooth. We recommend the following:
1. Listen to your doctor
First of all, follow your doctor's instructions. You can read 100 of these articles online on rhinoplasty recovery, but nothing beats the information you get from your plastic surgeon. You will receive specific instructions on what medications to take, when to take them, how to care for the surgery site to prevent infection, and when to return for another checkup.
2. Listen to your body
Your plastic surgeon will be able to see how your rhinoplasty recovery is going, but only you will know how you feel. Listen to your body: If something is wrong after your nose job, talk to your doctor right away.
3. Keep your head elevated for days to weeks after rhinoplasty.
Sleeping on your side after rhinoplasty is not only uncomfortable, it can shorten your recovery time by preventing more bruising and swelling. To avoid surprises after rhinoplasty surgery, you should keep your head elevated for 6 weeks after surgery. One of the easiest ways to do this is to prop your head up on two or three pillows. You can also sleep in a reclining chair. If you tend to move around when you sleep, you can hold your head in place with a travel pillow or surround yourself with rolled towels.
4. Use cold compresses after rhinoplasty.
In the first 72 hours after nose surgery, using a cold compress can help reduce swelling. Be careful not to press the compress directly onto your nose. Instead, place it on your cheeks to avoid accidentally moving bones or cartilage.
5. Get plenty of rest after rhinoplasty
The stuffiness you feel after nasal surgery can make it difficult to fall asleep, but rest is a vital part of the recovery process. Your body uses energy to heal itself, and sleeping seven to eight hours each night gives your body time to regain that energy.6. Maintain a healthy diet after rhinoplasty
What does eating vegetables have to do with recovering from nasal surgery? Very significant indeed. A balanced diet after rhinoplasty surgery will help speed up the healing process by giving the body the nutrients it needs to heal itself.
Protein is an essential component for skin, muscles, cartilage, and blood. A diet of nuts, meat, eggs, yogurt, fish, and other high-protein foods will help your body repair damaged tissues in and around the nose.
You'll also want to make sure you're getting plenty of vitamins in your diet, namely vitamin A and vitamin C. Vitamin A, which is usually found in dark green leaves like spinach and kale, is a great immune booster that can help you. fight infection after rhinoplasty surgery. Vitamin C plays an important role in the regeneration of collagen, a protein that connects the tissues of the skin. Citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C.
7. Stay calm after rhinoplasty surgery
The sauna, hot showers, and the heat of the sun can be a pleasant pastime, but they are not so good for a swollen nose. The heat will cause the tissues of the nose to swell even more, so it is best to follow a cool and spacious diet, take a warm shower, and stay out of the heat for several weeks after the rhinoplasty procedure.
8. Do not blow your nose abruptly and profusely after rhinoplasty.
After a nose job, you may have shortness of breath for several weeks, maybe even several months. This sensation is caused by inflammation of the nasal tissues. Resist the urge to blow your nose and talk to your doctor about using nasal saline to gently moisturize your nasal passages until the swelling subsides. You can actively blow your nose again 6 weeks after surgery.
How about sneezing? You can't just sneeze. Instead, try sneezing through your mouth rather than through your nose. It sounds disgusting, but it's better than damaging your fragile nasal passages and slowing down your rhinoplasty recovery time.
9. Avoid strenuous exercise after rhinoplasty.
In most patients, it takes about 6 weeks for the nasal bones to heal after surgery. Vigorous exercise should be avoided during this time. Even harmless movements like stretching, standing up, or bending over can increase the swelling of the nose. Wait for the doctor to give you the green light to return to your normal activities after rhinoplasty before beginning to ease your workout.
10. Don't wear glasses after rhinoplasty
Sunglasses, reading glasses, prescription glasses - Anything that puts pressure on the nose while it heals can cause additional bruising, swelling, or even dents that will require a second rhinoplasty.
Your plastic surgeon will tell you when to start wearing glasses again. In the meantime, switch to contact lenses if you can. If you can't, use the lightest frames possible and wear them only when absolutely necessary. If necessary, you can put a splint under the glasses, the one that was on the nose after rhinoplasty. It can be used with any type of glasses.
11. Stay out of the sun after rhinoplasty.
It is always helpful to protect the skin from excessive sun exposure, but this is especially important after nose surgery. Too much sun not only makes the nose more prone to sunburn for several weeks and months after the procedure, it can also make the scars darker and the swelling more severe.
12. Do not smoke before and after rhinoplasty.
Both before and after nose surgery, it is important not to smoke and, if possible, to avoid secondhand smoke. The nicotine contained in tobacco products restricts blood flow, making it difficult for the body to heal itself and interfering with recovery from plastic surgery and especially nose surgery.
13. After rhinoplasty, be especially patient!
First of all, be patient. You will recover and get the rhinoplasty results you want, it just takes time. The steps above will not convert a one-year recovery process into a one-week one, but will help speed up the processes and improve the postoperative outcome of rhinoplasty.
The recovery process after rhinoplasty is different for each patient. But from the moment you schedule your first rhinoplasty consultation, your doctor will be with you every step of the way. If you have any questions about the recovery or the procedure itself, don't hesitate, call your doctor by phone or fill out the contact form online.
When it comes to revision rhinoplasty
When your nose job doesn't give you the desired results, it can be a huge disappointment. After spending a significant amount of money and dealing with a long and uncomfortable recovery, you may be faced with this terrible problem.
Either way: you are not alone. Approximately a third of the patients are consulted about the possibility of any correction or reoperation of the nasal plasty.
The good news is that, in some cases, it is possible to achieve the desired appearance using non-surgical methods. But when it comes to revision rhinoplasty, follow these five steps to prepare for revision rhinoplasty.
1. Make sure your nose is completely healed after the first rhinoplasty surgery.
First, your nose must fully recover from the first rhinoplasty in order to withstand another procedure. Usually it takes a whole year to wait for a revision rhinoplasty. Premature revision surgery may not be justified as it may not solve all postoperative problems. For this reason, it is recommended to discuss the revision nose procedure only 12 months after the initial rhinoplasty.
2. Choose a new facial plastic surgeon carefully.
Revision rhinoplasty is more difficult than initial rhinoplasty as there can be many complex issues that need to be addressed with the already operated nasal tissue. This requires an experienced and knowledgeable plastic surgeon to properly address potential unforeseen problems.
Certification as a specialist is very important, but a qualified revision rhinoplasty surgeon must also actively continue their education.
Dr. Farrior writes about himself this way: . . . . I use myself as an example so you know which doctor to look for: I have taught rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty nationally and internationally and have published numerous articles and book chapters on this topic. In 2013, I was elected president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and I am the past president of the Florida FPS Society.
3. How to decide to schedule a revision rhinoplasty
Revision rhinoplasty can be relatively simple or extremely complex. It all depends on the following:
- What is the degree of abnormalities caused by the first rhinoplasty procedure?
- What is the amount of cartilage from the nasal septum that is removed during the first rhinoplasty procedure?
- What are the characteristics of your skin.
- What is the passage of the nasal airways after rhinoplasty?
The only way to know all of the above for sure is to schedule a consultation. During a physical exam, your surgeon will be able to determine if there was a significant loss of structural support during the primary rhinoplasty. If it has taken place, often with repeat rhinoplasty, cartilage grafts should be performed. Such grafts can be obtained from the septum, which, according to rhinoplast surgeons, is the best source of material for correction.
If the septate cartilage has been previously removed or damaged, it may be necessary to remove the cartilage from the ear or rib. Each of these types of transplants has pros and cons that will be discussed during the consultation.
4. Get complete information from your previous rhinoplast surgeon
A plastic surgeon can tell a lot just by looking at your nose. But to give you the maximum amount of information during your consultation, it is best to obtain and provide your pre-rhinoplasty photos and operational summary from a previous surgeon.
I understand that this may be an inconvenient request for some patients, but there is nothing shameful or prohibited about this. A medical record is your property that you share with your doctor, not the other way around.
5. Plan your rhinoplasty cost review.
Revision rhinoplasty usually takes 2 to 5 hours and is performed under general anesthesia. Requires limited physical activity for six weeks after surgery. The splints remain in place for eight days after surgery, and at the same time, some degree of nasal congestion and swelling will occur. More detailed information on postoperative restrictions will be discussed during the consultation.
Since the complexity and time invested in rhinoplasty is greater than in the first rhinoplasty, the costs are higher. Revision rhinoplasty generally costs 50% to 100% more than primary rhinoplasty.
If your new nose is not what you expected, it is time to take the next step: seek professional advice.