Rhinoplasty ( Nose Surgery ) Recovery: What to Expect ?
As soon as your cosmetic surgery is complete, the surgeon will set a small splint on your nose for five days to provide support and maintain the shape. Internal packing and soft silicone splints will be set inside your nose to stabilize the septum. The packing is removed the morning afterward. During the first days after surgery, you can expect mucus and slight bleeding from your nose or when the dressing is removed. We commonly use a drip pad under your nose to absorb drainage. This drip pad is a small piece of gauze that is held in place with tape and is easy to remove and replace as needed. You should also apply ice packs around your eyes and nose for the first 3 days to minimize swelling. Our staff will give you recommendations about frequency of changing the gauze and apply ice packs.
You will be discharged from clinic as soon as the effects of anesthesia have been soften, a friend of yours or a family member must accompany you on your way home. Then you will have to stay calm and relax, do your best to protect the nose from any trauma. You may perform non-strenuous activities such as watching TV and reading. Maybe you will feel stuffy, as the most patients can breathe only through the mouth in the first week. We usually do not prescribe pain medication, as there is typically very little or no pain after nose surgery. Try to avoid drugs, which contain aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, as they increase bleeding risk. Consult with the surgeon before taking any medicine. You may have bruising around the eyes during the first 1-2 weeks. Most patients might get back to work (non-strenuous) in about 10 days. Your upper lip and your nose tip may feel numb for the first couple of months and up to 2 years in some cases.
Bruising and Swelling after Rhinoplasty
Bruising and swelling are very common after nose surgery. One can see bruises around the nose, swelling of the nose, some peeling skin and black eyes. These are all temporary; they usually increase during the first days and then will decrease after the first week or so. It annoys greatly because you can not see ultimate results of your rhinoplasty until the swelling decreases!
The magnitude of swelling will depend on many factors. If you had open rhinoplasty or no, history of previous nasal surgeries or broken nasal bones, the swelling can be more prolonged. Patients who have thicker skin usually experience more swelling and the tip of their nose will most likely remain swollen longer than the rest of the nose. Finally, if your nose was reduced in size, your skin will have to shrink to fit the smaller size, and swelling may last longer.
Blood leaks from blood vessels, stains the surface of the skin from underneath and causes bruising. If the skin is thin and its color is light, the bruising can be more apparent. Because the eyelids skin is the thinnest on the body and is very close to the nose this bruising can appear most visibly in the form of blackened eyes or eyelids. Even in the worst cases, most of the bruising should clear up within one week.
A good diet helps the healing process. The mild liquid diet (water, soup, juice) is the best start of your recovery. Your stomach must be settled before you begin to eat and drink normally again. Vomiting can interfere with your recovery and healing time.
We will instruct you on how long you have to keep your head lifted after rhinoplasty. Your head must be up during the day and you should avoid bending over. It will reduce swelling. To avoid any pressure on your nose you should sleep on your back for a few weeks after surgery with your head elevated to 30 degree.
You must be very careful to avoid any trauma of the nose after the operation. Any activity which may cause you any discomfort must be avoided. This means no contact sports, and you should be careful among small children or pets that may move suddenly when in close proximity.
Consult with your doctor in Yerevan, Armenia about bathing and showering; it is generally permitted as long as the nose splint remains dry.
Your Rhinoplasty: The Results
We must notice that at first the nose may look rather swollen. This is absolutely normal and it takes between 3-5 weeks to subside the swelling. Even beyond this, fully subside of the swelling can take up to 3 years. Be patient. As the swelling decrease, you will see that the nose becomes thinner and smaller little by little, with the tip taking the longest to fully settle. Patients usually satisfied with the shape of their nose right after the procedure, but the appearance will still slowly continue to improve in course of time, until it reaches its final form.
Do not wear glasses for the first 8 to 10 weeks after your operation. Consult with your surgeon about when and how you can wear glasses after rhinoplasty in Yerevan, Armenia. Contact lenses can be used straight after nose surgery.
After all the dressings and stitches removed, we will instruct you about post-operative activity after surgery and at the following appointments at Arzni Aesthetica at 4 weeks, 3, 6 and 9 months, and then annually until year 3 after surgery. We will take post-operative photos during your visits.
At least two years must pass before you can think about another rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty Recovery: Complications
Rhinoplasty as any surgery can involve some risks. Though this procedure has a very low risk possibility, certain signs may indicate that your rhinoplasty recovery is not passing smoothly. For example, a fever is a sign of infection. Your temperature must be kept under control regularly. For more information visit our article on rhinoplasty risks.
Good luck with your recovery.
Visit the other pages on ArzniAesthetica.com to learn more about nose surgery, including any associated nose surgery risks, as well as info on revision nose surgery. This website also contains information about other forms of plastic surgery of the face such as brow lift and face lift surgery, as well as non-surgical rejuvenation.
