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 works continuously, participating in the process of breathing, warming, moisturizing and disinfecting the air. Due to its complexity, the recovery period takes longer than 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 the surgical intervention, correction methods, the patient's health condition, the doctor's qualifications, etc.
Phases of rehabilitation 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 rhinoplasty
The correction lasts on average 2-4 hours, most often it is performed under anesthesia, so on the first day after surgery the patient is in the clinic under observation. Drowsiness, weakness and apathy can occur for several hours, but these symptoms quickly disappear and after 3-4 hours the patient can move independently and eat food. There may be difficulty in nasal breathing due to nasal splints and swelling. Hematomas often appear around the eyes and near the nose. The next day the patient receives all the necessary recommendations and is discharged home.
Phase I: the first 7 days after correction
During this period, the patient's nose is fixed with a splint, which prevents the 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: feeling of constriction, foreign body, feeling of heaviness. Furthermore, the first postoperative period is characterized by pain, severe swelling and possible hematomas.
In this phase 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 raised and refrain from wearing make-up.
Phase II - 7-14 days after plastic surgery
The patient's well-being improves, the pain disappears, the hematomas resolve, the main swelling begins to decrease, but remains on the tip of the nose, back and sides. After about 10 days, the doctor removes the plaster splint, sutures 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. By the end of phase 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 go to work.
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 any 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?
Particular attention should be paid to nasal hygiene and safety. It is recommended to follow the following rules:
- Do not remove or cut sutures yourself;
- avoid mechanical impacts on the nasal area;
- treat the operated area with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection;
- In case of secretion, you should not blow your nose, but carefully clean the nasal passages using sterile cotton swabs;
- It is allowed to rinse the nose using a sea salt solution.
If symptoms appear such as hyperthermia (temperature above 38 degrees), nausea, rash, hyperemia, increased pain at the surgery site, persistent nosebleeds, shortness of breath, you should immediately visit a plastic surgeon.
Recommendations of a plastic surgeon to speed up and facilitate the recovery period
To ensure that the rehabilitation period passes as quickly, as comfortably as possible and without complications, it is advisable to use some recommendations of the surgeon, 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 near the nose and not on the organ itself;
- after removing the splint, massage is allowed, aimed at activating the facial lymph nodes, which also reduces swelling, improves blood supply and regeneration (active actions are not acceptable, massage consists of applying light pressure with your fingers according to the principle: "finger touch" " - "light pressure for 30 seconds" - "let go");
- For faster resorption of hematomas, special ointments recommended by the doctor can be applied to them.
Physiotherapy procedures have also proven to be effective: the patient is prescribed microcurrents, ultrasound therapy, phonophoresis and mesotherapy. All manipulations are performed 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 manipulation;
- 1 month after surgery;
- 2 months later;
- in 3 months;
- in six months;
- in a year.
After about 7-10 days the doctor will remove the plaster splint. If the condition worsens or complications develop, an emergency visit to the surgeon is necessary.
Use of drugs
The use of any local and systemic medications should be carried out only as prescribed by the plastic surgeon. If necessary, analgesics to relieve pain, diuretics to reduce swelling, drugs to improve microcirculation and vitamin therapy can be prescribed in the autumn and winter postoperative period. To rinse the nose, a solution of sea salt is prescribed; 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, therefore it is recommended to minimize the activity of the masticatory muscles.
On the day of plastic surgery, you should follow a light liquid diet, the next day regular food intake is allowed, but for 2 weeks you should avoid rough and hard foods that require chewing force, the food itself should be at a comfortable temperature level. 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 adhere to fractional balanced meals - 5-6 times a day.
Restrictions
Rhinoplasty does not limit the patient's social life, but during the recovery period it is recommended to pay more attention to your health and focus on personal feelings: if any action is accompanied by discomfort, then you should avoid performing it. It is also advisable during rehabilitation to refuse:
- active nose blowing: it is only allowed to thoroughly clean the nasal passages;
- sleep on your stomach and on your side: it is optimal to rest in a supine position;
- wear glasses for at least 2 months, including corrective glasses;
- weight lifting and physical activity;
- visit a solarium, a bathhouse, a sauna;
- shower 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 make sure you have a comfortable wardrobe, it is better to use clothes with zippers or buttons.
Visible result
The first visible result can be evaluated approximately one month after the correction, when the postoperative manifestations disappear. The nose takes on a clearer shape after 6-8 months, with the definitive result in a year. With non-surgical rhinoplasty, the final result is visible a few hours after the procedure.
FAQ
When can you go to the solarium after surgery?
Ultraviolet irradiation and thermal effect dilate blood vessels and capillaries, which can cause bleeding, increase swelling and slow down the regeneration of soft tissue. 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 do physical activity 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 the return to professional sports for at least six months.
When can you have sex after rhinoplasty?
Sex is a rather significant 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?
It is allowed to take a shower 3-5 days after the correction, only the water should be warm. It is important to avoid wetting the plaster cast; it must remain dry, since the first change is possible at least 5 days after 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 give up alcoholic beverages for at least a month after surgery.
How long does swelling last after surgery?
Tissue swelling is a standard phenomenon after rhinoplasty. Swelling reaches its maximum peak approximately 3 days after correction, when swelling is evident on the nose, eyelids, cheeks and, in some cases, chin, and then gradually begins to decrease. Obvious manifestations resolve within 1-3 weeks. Residual compaction, invisible to others, disappears after 6-8 months.
How long after the operation can I go to the bathhouse?
For 2 months after rhinoplasty, you should not expose your body to strong heat or sudden temperature changes. Accordingly, during this period you should avoid visiting baths, sunbathing (including solariums) and contrast showers.
Conclusion
Rhinoplasty is a rather complex plastic surgery 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 continuous functioning. The duration of rehabilitation after plastic surgery is variable and depends on the type of surgery, the complexity and extent of the correction, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient. To ensure that the recovery period is as comfortable and quick as possible, that various complications do not develop, and that the final result corresponds to your wishes, it is extremely important to responsibly follow the recommendations of the plastic surgeon in the postoperative period and strictly follow all his instructions.