After the operation, you should follow all instructions given to you for proper healing and a good outcome of your nose job. This includes common postoperative sensations and important health issues that may be of concern.
TYPICAL POSTOPERATIVE SYMPTOMS
Typical symptoms and signs to watch out for after rhinoplasty are as follows
Swollen, tense and bruised areas of the nose and cheeks, including bruising and puffy eyes. Nasal congestion, post-nasal drip and headaches. Numbness or swelling in the nose, lip and cheek areas.
These are normal sensations as your skin, facial bones, tissues and sensitive nerves heal. Pain relievers can help you cope with the discomfort.
Persistent and acute pain should be reported to our clinic immediately.
Soft, cool (not cold) compresses can be used for the eyes and nose to relieve discomfort and reduce swelling.
Do not apply ice or anything frozen directly to the skin. Do not put anything cold on the cheeks or neck. Soak soft white flannels or gauze pads in ice water and wring them out well. Apply all compresses gently; do not apply pressure. Apply cold compresses at intervals of no more than 20 minutes and try not to fall asleep with them. Do not use heat.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER THE OPERATION?
The operation will be accompanied by mild to moderate pain and discomfort. This can easily be controlled with oral medication. Tylenol with codeine (or its equivalent if you are allergic to codeine) is usually always sufficient to relieve the pain.
Discomfort and pain should begin to subside within 72 hours after surgery. A significant increase in pain after this period should be a reason to visit the clinic.
Bruising and swelling are not uncommon after surgery. These symptoms usually worsen on the second day after surgery and then steadily improve; this is normal.
The amount of bruising that occurs varies considerably from person to person. Most of the time the swelling occurs around the eyes, but some bruising may go down and discolor the cheek area.
If only the septum and/or tip of the nose is operated on, only slight bruising, if any, is usually expected.
After all rhinoplasty surgeries, you should expect some bloody discharge from the nose. After the operation a small gauze bandage will be placed as a mustache under the nose.
During the first 24-48 hours, this absorbent dressing will need to be changed 10-20 times, which is to be expected.
After the operation, a light bandage and plastic dressing is usually applied to the outside of the nose and plastic splints to the inside.
If only a septoplasty and/or nasal tip plasty has been performed, an external bandage cannot be applied. Internal and external nasal dressings are removed 5 to 7 days after surgery.
Nasal congestion is the most unpleasant problem you will face after surgery. It is most unbearable in the first week after surgery and improves considerably after removal of the internal nasal folds.
You can expect a gradual improvement of the remaining tightness in the following weeks.
After the operation there is usually excess mucus in the throat. This is because the splint inside the nose stimulates the nose to temporarily produce more mucus than usual.
This disappears after removal of the splints (5-7 days after surgery).
Numbness at the tip of the nose, in the upper front teeth or in the mouth is to be expected after surgery, as nose surgery usually results in temporary disruption of some of the nerves in that area.
The sensation usually returns slowly, over a period of weeks, rarely months.
After surgery, a temporary reduction or change in the sense of smell or taste is typical.
Again, this is due to the disruption of some of the nerves in the nose during the operation. These changes will begin to improve in the first 1-2 weeks after the procedure.
It is very important to know that the swelling after surgery will make the nose temporarily wider and the tip more upturned and less refined than desired.
You will often notice that swelling of the bridge of the nose improves more quickly than swelling of the tip of the nose. This should not be a cause for concern. All swelling of the nose will subside considerably in the first few weeks after surgery.
Although most of the swelling will go away in a few months, the condition of your nose will continue to improve for up to a year after surgery.
Patients who have only undergone septal surgery usually do not have significant swelling on the outside of the nose.
You may be anxious to see the results of your nose job immediately, but the recovery process takes time.
During this time you can take some steps to speed up the process and make sure everything heals properly.
RECOVERY TIME AFTER RHINOPLASTY
The average recovery time after rhinoplasty is one year. This may seem like a long time, but it becomes much more manageable if you break it down into a time frame.
The following stages of recovery may vary from patient to patient, but generally resemble this:
1 week: may appear in public with no noticeable signs of surgery, unless there is bruising around the eyes. This may take up to 2 weeks to resolve. You can resume your daily life.
2 weeks: most of the swelling of the face has subsided and most of the bruising should disappear.
3-4 weeks: you can safely return to cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming and cycling.
6 weeks: legs are stable, can resume resistance training (weight lifting), wear glasses and blow nose.
3-6 months: numbness and abnormal sensations in the nose and nasal membranes should disappear.
1 year: the healing process is complete: the swelling should be completely gone and the new shape of the nose should be fully formed.
Is there any way to speed up this timetable? Actually, there are many things you can do to make plastic surgery recovery easier. We recommend the following tips:
- LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR.
Above all, follow your doctor’s instructions. You can read hundreds of articles on the Internet, such as this one, about rhinoplasty recovery, but nothing compares to the information provided by your plastic surgeon. You will receive specific instructions on what medications to take, when to take them, how to care for the surgical site to avoid infection, and when to come in for a follow-up exam. - LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
Your plastic surgeon will be able to see how your nose job recovery is going from the outside, but only you know how you feel. Listen to your body: if you don’t feel comfortable after surgery, talk to your doctor right away. - KEEP YOUR HEAD ELEVATED.
Sleeping on your side after rhinoplasty is not only uncomfortable, it can prolong recovery time, causing more bruising and swelling. Even scarier, it can dislocate your nose. To avoid this, you will need to keep your head elevated at night for 6 weeks after surgery. One of the easiest ways to do this is to prop your head up on two or three pillows or use a foam wedge. It also helps to sleep in a lying position.
If you tend to toss and turn in bed, you can keep your head in position with a travel pillow or by wrapping folded towels around you.
- USE COLD PACKS
For the first 72 hours after surgery, the use of cold packs can help reduce swelling. Just be careful not to apply the compress directly to the nose. Instead, apply it to the cheeks to avoid accidentally dislocating bone or cartilage. - LOTS OF REST.
The tightness you feel after surgery can make it difficult to sleep, but rest is an important part of the recovery process. The body uses energy to repair itself, and seven to eight hours of deep sleep each night gives your body time to restore that energy. - FOLLOW A HEALTHY DIET.
What does eating vegetables have to do with recovering from a nose job? A lot, actually. A balanced diet after surgery will help speed your recovery by providing your body with the nutrients it needs to heal.
- KEEP THE COOL
A steamy shower, hot soup and a relaxing sauna may be nice, but they’re not so good for your swollen nose. Heat causes further swelling of nasal tissues, so it’s best to stick to a diet of cool foods at room temperature, take hot showers and stay away from heat for a few weeks after your nose reshaping procedure.
- DO NOT BLOWN YOUR NOSE.
After surgery, you will experience some congestion for a few weeks, perhaps even a few months. This sensation is caused by swelling of the nasal tissues. Resist the urge to blow your nose and talk to your doctor about using a saline nasal spray to gently moisten your nostrils until the swelling subsides. You may resume blowing your nose 6 weeks after surgery.
What about sneezing? You can’t decide not to sneeze. Instead, try sneezing through your mouth instead of your nose. It sounds unpleasant, but it’s better than damaging your delicate nasal passages and prolonging recovery time after rhinoplasty.
- AVOID VIGOROUS EXERCISE.
Most patients take about 6 weeks to heal after surgery. During this time, you should avoid strenuous physical activity. Even movements that seem harmless, such as stretching, lifting or bending forward, can increase nasal swelling. Wait until your doctor gives you the green light to resume normal activity before returning to lighter exercise. - DO NOT WEAR GLASSES
Sunglasses, reading glasses, prescription glasses: anything that puts pressure on the nose during the healing process can cause further bruising, swelling or even depressions that will later require a nose job.
Your plastic surgeon will advise you when it is safe to return to glasses. At this time you should switch to contact lenses if possible.
If you can’t, use the lightest possible frames and wear them only when absolutely necessary. Our staff will give you a splint that has been applied to your nose after surgery.
It can be placed on the nose under any goggle if it is necessary to wear it.
- DO NOT EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THE SUN.
It is always a good idea to protect your skin from excessive sun exposure, but this is especially important after a nose job. Not only is the nose more susceptible to sunburn in the weeks and months following surgery, but excessive sun exposure can also lead to darkening of scars and increased swelling. - NO SMOKING
Both before and after surgery it is important not to smoke and to avoid second-hand smoke if possible. The nicotine in tobacco products restricts blood flow, which hinders the body’s healing and hinders recovery from plastic surgery. - BE PATIENT
Above all, be patient. You will recover and get the desired results from rhinoplasty, it just takes time. Following the above steps will not turn a year-long recovery process into a week-long one, but it will help speed up the process and improve your well-being after surgery.
Always verify that your surgeon is endorsed by the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery. You can see my profile as an endorsed plastic surgeon in this link: https://cirugiaplastica.org.co/author/ladron-de-guevara-cervera-johnatan-roy
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