It is worth seeing the results of the rhinoplasty (nose shaping) procedure immediately, but the recovery process takes 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 healing time for rhinoplasty is one year. This may seem long, but it becomes much more manageable when broken down into a time frame. The next steps in recovering from nose surgery can vary from patient to patient, but usually something similar happens:
1 week after rhinoplasty:The splint used during rhinoplasty surgery can be removed and can go outdoors without any noticeable signs of rhinoplasty if there are no bruises around the eye. This can take up to 2 weeks. It is safe to continue everyday life.
2 weeks after rhinoplasty:After rhinoplasty surgery, most of the swelling in the face decreased and most of the bruises 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 continue to build resistance (weight lifting), wear glasses and touch your nose. Minimal injuries are no longer scary.
3-6 months after rhinoplasty:Numbness and unusual feelings 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 timeline after nasal surgery? In fact, there are many things you can do to help your recovery from nose surgery go more smoothly. We recommend the following:
1. Listen to your doctor
First, follow your doctor's instructions. Of these, you can read 100 articles online on rhinoplasty recovery, but nothing beats the information you get from a 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 see how the healing goes out of the rhinoplasty, but only you know how you feel. Listen to your body - if something goes wrong right after the nose job, talk to your doctor right away.
3. Keep your head raised for days or weeks after rhinoplasty
After rhinoplasty, sleeping on the side is not only uncomfortable - it can shorten the healing time as it prevents further bruising and swelling. To avoid surprises after rhinoplasty surgery, raise your head for 6 weeks after surgery. One of the easiest ways to do this is to raise your head to two or three pillows. You can also sleep in a chair. If you tend to move while sleeping, keep your head in place with a travel pillow or rolled up towels.
4. Use a cold compress after rhinoplasty
Using a cold compress for the first 72 hours after nasal surgery can reduce swelling. Be careful not to press the compress directly onto your nose. Instead, place it on your face to avoid accidentally moving bones or cartilage.
5. Rest a lot after rhinoplasty
Congestion after nasal surgery can make it difficult to fall asleep, but rest is an essential part of the healing process. Your body uses energy to heal itself, and if you sleep for seven to eight hours, it gives your body time each night to regain that energy.6. Follow a healthy diet after rhinoplasty
What has vegetable consumption got to do with recovering from nasal surgery? Moreover, it is very significant. A balanced diet after rhinoplasty surgery helps speed up the healing process by providing the body with the nutrients it needs to heal.
Protein is an essential building block of skin, muscle, cartilage and blood. Nuts, meat, eggs, yogurt, fish and other protein-rich foods help the body recover damaged tissue in and around the nose.
You also need to make sure that you are getting plenty of vitamins in your diet, namely vitamins A and C. Vitamin A, which is commonly found in dark green leaves such as spinach and kale, is a great immune booster to help fight infections after rhinoplasty surgery. Vitamin C plays an important role in the regeneration of the protein that connects skin tissues, collagen. Citrus fruits, brussels sprouts and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C.
7. Stay calm after rhinoplasty surgery
A sauna, hot shower and sunshine can be a pleasant pastime, but not so good for your swollen nose. The heat causes the nasal tissues to swell even more, so it’s best to stick to a cool, spacious diet, a warm shower, and keep yourself away from the heat for a few weeks after the rhinoplasty procedure.
8. After rhinoplasty, do not blow your nose suddenly and abundantly.
You may have difficulty breathing for weeks, maybe even months, after nasal surgery. This feeling is caused by swollen nasal tissues. Resist the urge to blow your nose and talk to your doctor about using saline to gently hydrate your nasal passages until the swelling goes away. You can continue to actively blow your nose for 6 weeks after surgery.
How about sneezing? You can't just sneeze. Instead, sneeze through your nose rather than your mouth. It sounds disgusting, but it’s better than damaging the fragile nasal passages and slowing down the recovery time for rhinoplasty.
9. Avoid strenuous exercise after rhinoplasty
In most patients, it takes about 6 weeks for the nasal bones to heal after surgery. Exercising should be avoided during this period. Even harmless movements such as stretching, lifting, or bending can increase nasal swelling. Before you start relieving your workout, wait until your doctor gives you a green light to return to your normal activities after rhinoplasty.
10. Do not wear glasses after rhinoplasty
Sunglasses, reading glasses, prescription glasses - anything that puts pressure on your nose when healing can cause additional bruises, swellings, or even dents that 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 don’t know, wear the lightest possible frames and only when absolutely necessary. If necessary, a rail can be placed under the glasses, on the nose after rhinoplasty. Can be used with any glasses.
11. Stay away from the sun after rhinoplasty
It is always helpful to protect the skin from too much sunlight, but this is especially important after nose surgery. Too much sunshine not only makes your nose more prone to sunburn a few weeks and months after the procedure, but can also cause scars to darken and swelling to worsen.
12. Do not smoke before and after rhinoplasty
It is important not to smoke before and after nasal surgery and to avoid secondary smoking if possible. Nicotine in tobacco products restricts blood flow, making it difficult for the body to self-heal and preventing recovery from plastic surgeries, especially nasal surgeries.
13. Be especially patient after rhinoplasty!
First, be patient. It heals and gets the rhinoplasty result you want - it only takes time. The above steps do not change the one-year recovery process in a one-week process, but they help speed up the processes and improve the postoperative outcome of rhinoplasty.
The recovery process after rhinoplasty is different in each patient. But from the moment you schedule your first rhinoplasty consultation, your doctor will accompany you every step of the way. If you have any questions about the recovery or the procedure itself, do not hesitate to call your doctor by phone or fill out the online contact form.
When it comes to rhinoplasty review
If the nose surgery does not give the desired result, it can be a big disappointment. Once you have spent significant sums and dealt with a long and inconvenient recovery, you may face this terrible problem.
Either way: you are not alone. About one-third of patients are consulted for the possibility of rhinoplasty correction or re-surgery.
The good news is that in some cases it is possible to achieve the desired appearance by non-surgical methods. But when it comes to rhinoplasty review, follow these five steps to prepare for a rhinoplasty review.
1. Make sure your nose is completely healed after your first rhinoplasty surgery
First, the nose must be completely removed from the first rhinoplasty to withstand another procedure. You usually have to wait a whole year for a rhinoplasty for a review. Early revision surgery may not be warranted because it does not solve all postoperative problems. For this reason, it is recommended that the nasal examination procedure be discussed only 12 months after the initial rhinoplasty.
2. Carefully select a new facial surgeon.
Revision rhinoplasty is more difficult than initial rhinoplasty because there can be many complex problems that need to be solved with nasal tissue that has already been operated on. This requires an experienced and knowledgeable plastic surgeon to properly handle any unforeseen problems.
A specialist qualification is very important, but a trained revision rhinoplasty surgeon should also actively pursue their studies.
Dr. Farrior writes of himself: . . . . I use myself as an example to know which doctor to look for: I have taught rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty nationally and internationally, and I have published numerous articles and book chapters on this topic. In 2013, I was elected president of the American Academy of Facelift and Reconstructive Surgery, and I am a former president of the Florida FPS Society.
3. How to decide on the schedule of a review rhinoplasty?
Review rhinoplasty can be relatively simple - or extremely complex. It all depends on:
- To what extent does the first rhinoplasty procedure cause a disorder?
- What is the nasal septum cartilage removed during the first rhinoplasty procedure?
- What are the characteristics of your skin.
- What is the passage of the nasopharynx after rhinoplasty.
The only way to be sure you know the above is to arrange a date. During the physical examination, your surgeon will be able to determine if there has been a significant loss of structural support during the primary rhinoplasty. Once this has been done, cartilage abrasions should be performed frequently with repeated rhinoplasty. Such a graft can be obtained from the septum, which rhinoplasty surgeons say is the best source of material for correction.
If the septic cartilage has been previously removed or damaged, it may be necessary to remove the cartilage from the ear or rib. Each of these types of transplants has advantages and disadvantages that will be discussed during the consultation.
4. Ask your previous rhinoplasty surgeon for complete information
A plastic surgeon can reveal a lot if he just looks at his nose. But in order to provide you with as much information as possible during the consultation, it is best to obtain and provide pre-rhinoplasty photographs and a summary of the operation from a previous surgeon.
I understand that this may be an inconvenient request for some patients, but there is nothing shameful and forbidden in this. The medical record is your property, which you share with your doctor and not the other way around.
5. Plan to review the cost of rhinoplasty
Review rhinoplasty usually takes 2 to 5 hours and is performed under general anesthesia. It requires limited physical activity for six weeks after surgery. The cracks remain in place for eight days after surgery, and some degree of nasal congestion and swelling occurs at the same time. More detailed information on postoperative restrictions will be discussed during the consultation.
Because the complexity and time of rhinoplasty is more than with the first rhinoplasty, the cost is higher. Generally, a revision rhinoplasty costs 50-100% more than a primary rhinoplasty.
If your new nose isn’t what you expected, then it’s time to take the next step - seek professional advice.