Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery that allows you to effectively correct post-traumatic consequences, completely restore tissue structures, correct nasal breathing, and also adjust the shape or size of the nose for aesthetic purposes.
The procedure is a complex type of surgical intervention, since this organ functions continuously, participating in the respiratory process, warming, moisturizing and disinfecting the air. Due to its complexity, the recovery period takes longer compared to other types of plastic correction and requires the patient to strictly follow the surgeon's recommendations and prescriptions.
The speed and characteristics of rehabilitation are individual and depend on many factors: the complexity and volume of surgical intervention, methods of correction, the patient's health, the doctor's qualifications, etc.
Rehabilitation stages after rhinoplasty.
The exact timing of the recovery period in each clinical situation is determined individually, but any rehabilitation can be conditionally divided into several stages.
The day of the rhinoplasty
The correction lasts an average of 2 to 4 hours, most often it is performed under anesthesia, so the first day after the intervention the patient is in the clinic under observation. Drowsiness, weakness and apathy may appear for several hours, but these symptoms quickly disappear and after 3-4 hours the patient can move independently and eat. There may be difficulty in nasal breathing due to nasal splints and swelling. Bruises usually appear around the eyes and near the nose. The next day the patient receives all the necessary recommendations and is discharged home.
Stage I: the first 7 days after correction.
During this period, the patient's nose is fixed with a splint, which prevents displacement of the structures, and silicone splints are inserted into the nasal passages, which allow nasal breathing to be maintained. All this can cause discomfort in the first days: a feeling of tightness, a foreign body, a feeling of heaviness. In addition, the early postoperative period is characterized by pain, severe swelling and possible bruising.
At this stage it is necessary to take the medications recommended by the doctor, rinse your nose, rest completely, avoid any physical activity, sleep on your back with the head of the bed elevated and refrain from wearing makeup.
Stage II: 7-14 days after plastic surgery.
The patient's well-being improves, the pain disappears, the bruises resolve, the main swelling begins to subside, but remains on the tip of the nose, back and sides. After about 10 days, the doctor removes the cast splint, sutures it, and removes the splints. Restrictions remain on physical activity, hot and cold water procedures, the use of decorative cosmetics and exposure to sunlight.
Stage III: 2 weeks-1 month after rhinoplasty
All signs of surgery disappear on the face and an improvement in the shape of the nose is observed. At the end of stage 3, physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated to strengthen the new structures of the nose. After 3-4 weeks, the patient can return to the usual rhythm of life and start working.
Stage IV - 6 months-1 year
During this period, the nose acquires the desired ideal shape, scars become invisible, all tissues are completely restored and at the same time restrictions and prohibitions are removed. After a year, cosmetic manipulations in the nose area are allowed.
What is especially important for the patient to pay attention to during the recovery period?
Special attention should be paid to nasal hygiene and safety. It is recommended to comply with the following rules:
- Do not remove or cut the suture threads yourself;
- avoid mechanical impacts on the nasal area;
- treat the operated area with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection;
- When there is discharge, you should not blow your nose, you should clean the nasal passages carefully and using sterile cotton swabs;
- It is permissible to rinse your nose with a solution of sea salt.
If symptoms such as hyperthermia (temperature above 38 degrees), nausea, rash, hyperemia, increased pain at the intervention site, persistent nosebleeds, difficulty breathing appear, you should immediately visit a plastic surgeon.
Recommendations from a plastic surgeon to speed up and facilitate the recovery period
So that the rehabilitation period passes faster, as comfortably as possible and without complications, it is advisable to follow some of the surgeon's recommendations, namely:
- after manipulation, sleep only on your back with the head of the bed raised; this will increase the outflow of fluid from the head and the swelling will be less pronounced;
- use cold compresses to reduce swelling; the compress is placed on the area next to the nose, and not on the organ itself;
- after removing the splint, a massage is allowed aimed at activating the facial lymph nodes, which also reduces swelling, improves blood flow and regeneration (active actions are unacceptable, the massage consists of applying light pressure with the fingers according to the principle: "finger touch" - "light pressure for 30 seconds" - "release");
- For faster resorption of hematomas, it is allowed to apply special ointments recommended by the doctor.
Physiotherapy procedures have also proven themselves: the patient is prescribed microcurrents, ultrasound therapy, phonophoresis and mesotherapy. All manipulations are carried out after removing the bandage, the specific type of procedure and its frequency are determined by the doctor, taking into account the patient's condition.
Postoperative appointments with a plastic surgeon.
The patient must visit a plastic surgeon for follow-up at certain times:
- 7 days after handling;
- 1 month after the intervention;
- 2 months later;
- In 3 months;
- in six months;
- in a year.
After about 7 to 10 days, the doctor will remove the cast splint. If the condition worsens or complications develop, an emergency visit to the surgeon is necessary.
Medication use
The use of any local and systemic medications should be done only as prescribed by the plastic surgeon. If necessary, analgesics may be recommended to relieve pain, diuretics to reduce swelling, medications to improve microcirculation, and vitamin therapy in the autumn and winter postoperative period. A sea salt solution is prescribed to rinse the nose; Ointments are sometimes recommended to optimize blood flow and lymphatic drainage.
Nutrition and diet
The postoperative period involves some dietary restrictions. An important condition for correct and rapid regeneration is facial rest, so it is recommended to minimize the activity of the masticatory muscles.
On the day of plastic surgery, a light diet of liquid dishes should be followed, the next day regular food intake is allowed, but for 2 weeks, rough and hard foods that require chewing force should be avoided, the food itself should be at a comfortable temperature. For a month after plastic surgery, it is recommended to limit the consumption of salty, sweet and smoked foods - foods that retain fluid in the body and, as a result, increase swelling. To improve metabolic processes, it is advisable to follow balanced meals in fractions, 5-6 times a day.
Restrictions
Rhinoplasty does not limit the patient's social life, but during the recovery period it is recommended to be more careful with health and focus on personal feelings: if any action is accompanied by discomfort, then it should be avoided. It is also advisable during rehabilitation to refuse:
- actively blowing your nose - only carefully cleaning the nasal passages is allowed;
- sleeping on your stomach and on your side: it is optimal to rest on your back;
- wear glasses for at least 2 months, including corrective glasses;
- weight lifting and physical activity;
- visit a solarium, bathhouse, sauna;
- showering in extreme temperatures.
Various experiments with traditional medicine, especially food-based "solutions", hot salt-based compresses, etc. , are strictly prohibited. It is also important to remember that for the first two weeks you should not touch your nose, so be careful. For a comfortable wardrobe, it is better to use clothes with a zipper or buttons.
Visible result
The first visible result can be assessed approximately a month after the correction, when postoperative manifestations disappear. The nose takes on a clearer shape after 6-8 months, with the final result in a year. With non-surgical rhinoplasty, the final result is visible a few hours after the procedure.
Frequently asked questions
When can you go to the solarium after surgery?
Ultraviolet irradiation and the thermal effect dilate blood vessels and capillaries, which can cause bleeding, increase swelling and slow down the regeneration of soft tissues. You can visit the solarium no earlier than 6 weeks after rhinoplasty, when the hematomas have completely resolved and the edema syndrome has passed.
When can you exercise after rhinoplasty?
Sports exercises cause an increase in heart rate and increased blood circulation, especially a rush of blood to the face, so all activities should be postponed for 2-3 months and return to professional sports - for at least six months .
When can you have sex after rhinoplasty?
Sex is a fairly important physical activity that should be avoided in the first 2-3 weeks after correction; Otherwise, bleeding, increased swelling is possible, and any slightest touch to the nose can deform the organ and affect the final result.
When can you wash after surgery?
Showering is allowed 3-5 days after the correction, only the water should be warm. It is important to prevent the plaster from getting wet, it must remain dry, since the first change is possible at least 5 days after its application.
When can you drink alcohol after surgery?
Ethyl alcohol, contained in all alcoholic beverages without exception, slows down tissue regeneration and negatively affects blood vessels and the heart, so it is extremely important to stop alcoholic beverages for at least a month after surgery.
How long does swelling last after surgery?
Tissue swelling is a standard phenomenon after rhinoplasty. The swelling peaks about 3 days after the correction, when swelling is noticeable on the nose, eyelids, cheeks, and in some cases the chin, and then begins to gradually subside. Noticeable manifestations resolve in 1 to 3 weeks. Residual compaction, invisible to others, disappears after 6-8 months.
How long after surgery can I go to the bathhouse?
During the 2 months after rhinoplasty, you should not expose your body to strong heat or sudden changes in temperature. Consequently, during this period it is advisable to avoid visiting baths, sunbathing (including solariums) and contrasting showers.
Conclusion
Rhinoplasty is a fairly complex plastic surgery that is performed not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for therapeutic purposes. The level of complexity is determined by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the organ and its continued functioning. The duration of rehabilitation after plastic surgery is variable and depends on the type of surgical intervention, the complexity and scope of the correction, and the individual characteristics of the patient. In order for the recovery period to be as comfortable and quick as possible, so that various complications do not develop, and so that the final result corresponds to your wishes, it is extremely important to responsibly take the recommendations of the plastic surgeon in the postoperative period and strictly follow all his instructions.