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, several steps can be taken to speed up the process and ensure proper cure.
Recovery time after rhinoplasty
The average recovery time from rhinoplasty is one year. This may seem like a long time, but it becomes much more manageable when split over a period of time. The steps to follow in recovering from nasal surgery may 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 you can leave without showing any noticeable signs of the nose surgery, as long as there are no bruises around the eyes. This can take 2 weeks. It's safe to go back to daily life.
2 weeks after rhinoplasty:Most of the swelling on the face after rhinoplasty surgery has subsided and most of the bruises have disappeared.
3-4 weeks after rhinoplasty:You can safely return to normal physical activities such as running, swimming and cycling.
6 weeks after rhinoplasty:Bones are stable, you can resume resistance training (lifting weights), wear glasses, and touch your nose. Minor injuries are no longer frightening.
3-6 months after rhinoplasty:Numbness and unusual sensations in the nasal region should disappear.
1 year after rhinoplasty:The healing process is complete - the swelling should disappear completely.
Is there any way to speed up this schedule after nose surgery? In fact, there are many things you can do to make your recovery from nose surgery go more smoothly. We recommend the following:
1. Listen to your doctor
First, follow your doctor's instructions. You can read 100 of these articles online about rhinoplasty recovery, but nothing beats the information you get from your plastic surgeon. You will be given specific instructions on what medications to take, when to take them, how to care for the surgical site to prevent infections, and when you will need to return for another check-up.
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 are feeling. Listen to your body - if something goes wrong right after your nose job, talk to your doctor right away.
3. Keep your head elevated for days or weeks after rhinoplasty
Sleeping on your side after rhinoplasty is not only uncomfortable - it can shorten recovery time by preventing additional bruising and swelling. To avoid surprises after rhinoplasty surgery, you need to keep your head elevated for 6 weeks after surgery. One of the easiest ways to do this is to lift your head on two or three pillows. You can also sleep in a reclining chair. If you tend to move around when you sleep, you can keep your head flat with a travel pillow or by wrapping yourself in rolled up towels.
4. Use cold compresses after rhinoplasty
For the first 72 hours after nasal surgery, using a cold compress can help reduce swelling. Be careful not to press the pad directly onto your nose. Instead, place it on your cheeks to avoid accidentally moving bone or cartilage.
5. Get plenty of rest after rhinoplasty
The congestion 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 getting a sound of seven to eight hours of sleep every night gives your body time to recover that energy.6. Maintain a healthy diet after rhinoplasty
What does eating vegetables have to do with recovering from nasal surgery? Very significant actually. A balanced diet after rhinoplasty surgery will help speed up the healing process by providing the body with the nutrients it needs to heal.
Protein is an essential building block for skin, muscle, cartilage and blood. A diet of nuts, meat, eggs, yogurt, fish, and other protein-rich foods will help the 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 often found in dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, is a great immune booster that can help you fight infections after rhinoplasty surgery. Vitamin C plays an important role in the regeneration of collagen, a protein that connects skin tissues. Citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C.
7. Stay calm after rhinoplasty surgery
Sauna, hot baths and the heat of the sun can be a pleasant pastime, but they are not so good for your swollen nose. The heat will cause the tissues in the nose to swell even more, so it's best to stick to a fresh, roomy diet, take a hot shower, and stay out of the heat for several weeks after your rhinoplasty procedure.
8. Do not blow your nose abruptly and profusely after rhinoplasty.
After a nose job, you may have difficulty breathing for several weeks, maybe even several months. This sensation is caused by swollen nasal tissues. Resist the urge to blow your nose and talk to your doctor about using nasal saline solution to gently hydrate the nasal passages until the swelling goes down. You can go back to actively blowing your nose 6 weeks after surgery.
How about sneezing? You can't just sneeze. Instead, try sneezing out of your mouth instead of your nose. It sounds gross, but it's better than damaging the fragile nasal passages and slowing recovery time from rhinoplasty.
9. Avoid vigorous exercise after rhinoplasty
In most patients, it takes about 6 weeks for the nasal bones to heal after surgery. Strenuous exercise should be avoided during this period. Even innocuous movements like stretching, lifting or bending can increase the swelling of the nose. Wait until your doctor gives you the green light to return to your normal activities after rhinoplasty before starting to lighten up your workout.
10. Do not wear glasses after rhinoplasty
Sunglasses, reading glasses, prescription glasses - anything that puts pressure on the nose during healing can cause bruises, swelling or even dents that will require a second rhinoplasty.
Your plastic surgeon will advise you when to start wearing glasses again. In the meantime, switch to contact lenses if you can. If you can't, use the lightest possible frames and only use them when absolutely necessary. If necessary, a splint can be placed under the glasses, the one that was left on the nose after the rhinoplasty. Can be used with any type of glasses.
11. Stay out of the sun after rhinoplasty
It is always helpful to protect your 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, but it can also cause the scars to become darker and the swelling more intense.
12. Do not smoke before and after rhinoplasty
Before and after nasal 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 and interfering with recovery from plastic surgery and especially nose surgery.
13. After rhinoplasty, be especially patient!
First, be patient. You'll recover and get the rhinoplasty results you want - it takes time. The steps above will not turn a one-year recovery process into a week, but they will help to speed up the processes and improve the post-operative outcome of rhinoplasty.
The recovery process after rhinoplasty is different for each patient. But from the moment you book your first rhinoplasty appointment, your doctor will accompany you every step of the way. If you have any questions about recovery or the procedure itself, don't hesitate, call your doctor by phone or fill in the online contact form.
When it comes to revision rhinoplasty
When nose surgery doesn't give the desired results, it can be a big disappointment. After spending a significant amount of money and dealing with a long and inconvenient recovery, you may face this terrible problem.
Anyway: you are not alone. About a third of patients are consulted about the possibility of any correction or reoperation of the nasal plastic surgery.
The good news is that in some cases it is possible to achieve the desired look by 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 needs to be fully recovered from the first rhinoplasty to withstand another procedure. It usually takes an entire year to wait for a revision rhinoplasty. Premature revision surgery may not be warranted as it may not resolve all post-operative problems. For this reason, it is recommended to discuss the nose revision 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 problems that need to be treated with the nasal tissue that has already been operated on. This requires a plastic surgeon with experience and knowledge to properly handle potential unforeseen problems.
Certification as a specialist is very important, but a qualified reviewing rhinoplasty surgeon should also actively pursue their training.
Dr. Farrior writes about himself as follows: . . . I use myself as an example to let you know which doctor to look for: I have taught review rhinoplasty and rhinoplasty nationally and internationally and have published several articles and book chapters on the subject. 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 abnormality caused by the first rhinoplasty procedure?
- How much nasal septum cartilage is removed during the first rhinoplasty?
- What are the characteristics of your skin.
- What is the passage of the nasal airways after rhinoplasty.
The only way to know all this for sure is to schedule an appointment. During the physical examination, your surgeon will be able to determine if there has been a significant loss of structural support during primary rhinoplasty. If this has happened, then often with repeated rhinoplasty, cartilage grafts must be done. These grafts can be obtained from the septum, which, according to rhinoplast surgeons, is the best source of material for correction.
If the septate cartilage was previously removed or damaged, it may be necessary to remove the cartilage from the ear or rib. Each of these types of transplant has pros and cons that will be discussed during the consultation.
4. Get complete information from your previous rhinoplasty surgeon
A plastic surgeon can tell you a lot just by looking at your nose. But to provide you with the most information during your consultation, it's 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 and forbidden about it. A medical record is your property that you share with your doctor, not the other way around.
5. Rhinoplasty cost review plan
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 some degree of nasal congestion and swelling will occur during the same period. More detailed information about postoperative restrictions will be discussed during the consultation.
As the complexity and time spent in rhinoplasty are greater than in the first rhinoplasty, the costs are higher. Revision rhinoplasty typically costs 50-100% more than primary rhinoplasty.
If your new nose isn't what you expected, it's time to take the next step - seek professional advice.