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 from rhinoplasty is one year. This may seem like a long time, but it becomes much more manageable when it is broken down into a time frame. The following steps 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 the rhinoplasty surgery can be removed and you can exit without showing obvious signs of the nose surgery, as long as there are no bruises around the eyes. This could take 2 weeks. It is safe to resume daily life.
2 weeks after rhinoplasty:Most of the swelling on the face after rhinoplasty has reduced and most of the bruises have 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 (weight lifting), put on glasses and touch your nose. Minimal injuries are no longer scary.
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 completely disappear.
Is there any way to speed up this timeline after nose surgery? In fact, there are many things you can do to make your recovery from nose surgery easier. 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 about 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 recovery from rhinoplasty is going, but only you will know how you feel. Listen to your body: if something is 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 isn't just uncomfortable - it can shorten your recovery time by preventing further bruising and swelling. To avoid surprises after rhinoplasty surgery, it is necessary to keep the head elevated for 6 weeks after surgery. One of the easiest ways to do this is to raise your head on two or three pillows. You can also sleep in a reclining chair. If you tend to move when you sleep, you can keep your head still with a travel pillow or by surrounding yourself with rolled-up towels.
4. Use cold packs after rhinoplasty
In the first 72 hours after nose surgery, using a cold pack can help reduce swelling. Be careful not to press the compress directly on the nose. Instead, place it on your cheeks to avoid accidentally moving bones 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 sleeping seven to eight hours 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, in fact. A balanced diet after rhinoplasty will help speed up the healing process by giving the body the nutrients it needs to heal itself.
Protein is an essential element for the skin, muscles, cartilage and blood. A diet of nuts, meat, eggs, yogurt, fish, and other protein-rich foods will help your body repair damaged tissues in and around your nose.
You will also need to make sure you are 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 enhancer that can help you to fight infections after rhinoplasty. 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 showers, and the warmth of the sun can be a pleasant pastime, but they are not good for a swollen nose. The heat will cause the tissues of the nose to swell even more, so it is best to stick to a cool and spacious diet, take a hot shower, and stay out of the heat for several weeks after the rhinoplasty procedure.
8. Do not blow your nose sharply and profusely after rhinoplasty.
After a nose surgery, you may have difficulty breathing for several weeks, perhaps even for 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 to gently hydrate the nasal passages until the swelling subsides. You can resume actively blowing your nose 6 weeks after surgery.
How about sneezing? You can't just sneeze. Instead, try sneezing from your mouth instead of your nose. It sounds disgusting, but it's better than damaging the fragile nasal passages and slowing down the recovery time of rhinoplasty.
9. Avoid vigorous exercise after rhinoplasty
In most patients, it takes about 6 weeks for the nasal bones to heal after surgery. Intense exercise should be avoided during this time. Even harmless movements such as stretching, lifting or bending can increase swelling of the nose. Wait for your doctor to give you the green light to return to your normal activities after rhinoplasty before starting to lighten your workout.
10. Do not wear glasses after rhinoplasty
Sunglasses, reading glasses, eyeglasses - anything that puts pressure on the nose as it heals can cause further bruising, swelling, or even bruises that require a second rhinoplasty.
Your plastic surgeon will advise you when to start wearing glasses again. In the meantime, he switches to contact lenses if you can. If you can't, he wears 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. Can be used with all 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 cause scars to become darker and 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 and interfering with recovery from plastic surgery and especially nose surgery.
13. After rhinoplasty, be especially patient!
First of all, have patience. You will recover and have the rhinoplasty results you want - it just takes time. The above steps will not turn a one-year recovery process into a week, 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 plan your first rhinoplasty visit, your doctor will accompany 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 online contact form.
When it comes to revision rhinoplasty
When your nose surgery doesn't give the desired results, it can be a big disappointment. After spending a significant amount of money and going through a long and uncomfortable recovery, you may face this terrible problem.
In any case: you are not alone. About a third of patients are consulted about the possibility of any correction or reoperation of the nasal plastic.
The good news is that in some cases it is possible to achieve the desired look with 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 of all, your nose must be fully recovered from the first rhinoplasty to withstand another procedure. It usually takes a full 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 that the nose revision procedure be discussed 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 addressed with the already operated nasal tissue. This requires an experienced and knowledgeable plastic surgeon to adequately address any unexpected problems.
Certification as a specialist is very important, but a qualified revision rhinoplasty surgeon should also actively pursue his training.
Dr. Farrior writes about himself this way: . . . . I take myself as an example so that 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 former 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 nasal septal cartilage 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 for sure all of the above is to book a consultation. During a physical exam, the surgeon will be able to determine if significant loss of structural support has occurred during primary rhinoplasty. If it has taken place, often with repeated 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 septal cartilage has previously been removed or damaged, it may be necessary to remove the cartilage from the ear or rib. Each of these transplant types has pros and cons that will be discussed during the consultation.
4. Get comprehensive information from your previous rhinoplast surgeon
A plastic surgeon can tell a lot just by looking at your nose. But to provide you with the maximum amount of information during the consultation, it is best to obtain and provide your pre-rhinoplasty photos and operation summary from a previous surgeon.
I understand this may be an uncomfortable request for some patients, but there is nothing shameful and forbidden about this. A medical record is your property that you share with your doctor, not the other way around.
5. Plan to review the cost of rhinoplasty
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 on postoperative restrictions will be discussed during the consultation.
Since the complexity and time spent on rhinoplasty is 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 hoped for, it's time to take the next step: seek professional advice.