A rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape the nose. The procedure is usually performed to improve the shape, size or function of the nose. Rhinoplasty can be performed on adults and children. The most common reason for having a rhinoplasty is a congenital or acquired defect in one’s nose.
Rhinoplasty recovery time varies depending on the patient and their plastic surgeon but, in general, patients will experience little to no pain during the first week following surgery. A typical rhinoplasty recovery plan includes rest, ice packs, pain medication and avoiding strenuous activity for up to three weeks after surgery.
Rhinoplasty is a common procedure that can help you achieve the nose shape you’ve always wanted. You’ll want to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself during your recovery period.
Here are some tips to help you stay healthy during rhinoplasty recovery:
Stop Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body and your health. Not only does smoking have a negative effect on your lungs, but it also affects your heart, bones, and skin. Smoking can increase the risk of developing respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer and emphysema. It can also lead to complications during rhinoplasty surgery like bleeding and infection. Set a date for when you’ll quit smoking. Decide how long you’ll be smoke-free for — for example, two weeks or 30 days.
Sleep In The Proper Position
When you sleep, you want to make sure that your head is in alignment with your spine. This will help reduce any pain or discomfort in your neck and back. You can do this by sleeping on your back with a pillow between your knees or on your side with one leg bent at a 90-degree angle.
Be Careful with Your Medications
Before you have rhinoplasty surgery, you will need to stop taking certain medications including aspirin and Ibuprofen. These medications thin the blood, which can cause bleeding during surgery. During recovery from rhinoplasty surgery, it is important that you avoid taking these medications or any other prescription drugs unless they have been specifically prescribed by your doctor. You should also avoid over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen because they can cause inflammation in your nasal passages and increase swelling around your nose after the surgery has been performed on it.
Focus On Resting
Take time off work and get plenty of sleep each night. Try to spend more time resting at home than out with friends or family members who might want to go out and do things that require a lot of energy or effort on your part (such as going shopping). It also helps if you’re able to stay away from crowded places where germs might be passed around easily (such as shopping malls), but try not to isolate yourself too much either.
Eat A Balanced Diet
You should eat a balanced diet as often as possible while recovering from rhinoplasty surgery. This will help keep your immune system strong so that it can fight off any potential infections that may occur during this time. It’s also important to maintain a healthy weight so that your body doesn’t lose too much weight during this period. This could negatively impact how quickly your body heals after surgery.
Avoid Certain Activities
You should avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks after your rhinoplasty procedure. This includes heavy lifting, sports, and participating in contact sports. You should also avoid bending over or reaching above your head for two weeks following the surgery.
Drink Water
Drinking water is essential for good health as well as helping your body recover from surgery faster. Drinking plenty of water helps in flushing out toxins and other waste products from your body which prevents infections and other complications that could arise due to poor hygiene.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
This is especially important if you have fair skin or freckles, but it’s also important for people with darker skin tones who don’t want to get a sunburn. Sun exposure can cause damage to your skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Stay out of the sun as much as possible until your surgeon says it’s safe for you to do so.
Avoiding Infection
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure, so there’s always the risk of infection. Your surgeon will take all precautions to prevent infection by using sterile instruments and equipment, but it’s your responsibility to avoid putting yourself at risk of infection. While you’re prescribed antibiotics after surgery, you should continue to take them for the entire course of treatment — even if you feel completely better. The antibiotics keep bacteria from entering your body and causing an infection, while also killing any that may already be present in your system.
Keeping Your Nose Clean
During your rhinoplasty surgery, your nose was likely packed with gauze and bandaged tightly. Once you’ve left the hospital and healed enough to remove the packing, it’s important to keep your nose clean. Do this by gently blowing your nose each morning and night. If you have trouble breathing through your nose after surgery, try using a nasal saline spray or bulb syringe every few hours as needed.
Staying Comfortable
Rhinoplasty results in changes to how things smell, taste and feel, so it’s important to be as comfortable as possible while recovering from surgery. You may experience swelling in your nose or face, which can make it difficult to breathe through your nose or swallow properly. You may also have difficulty sleeping if you’re having trouble breathing through your nose or swallowing food properly. Your doctor might recommend using an ice pack wrapped in a towel over your nose or face to reduce swelling.
Take your medication as prescribed.
Your doctor will prescribe pain medication for after surgery so that you can recover comfortably at home. If you experience pain post-surgery, take your medicine as directed by your doctor until it has completely worn off. In addition to prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) may also be helpful in relieving discomfort after surgery.
Avoid vigorous activities, including sports and exercise.
You’ll want to give your body time to heal from surgery before getting back into your normal routine. You may still be sore or swollen, which could make it difficult or risky for you to engage in physically demanding activities like running or playing sports. Your doctor will provide specific instructions regarding when you can resume these types of activities after your surgery.
Don’t Drink Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can irritate your skin and cause blood vessels to dilate. This increases bruising and swelling. It also delays healing. Avoid alcohol completely until after your doctor says it’s safe for you to drink again (usually three weeks). If you have any questions about whether or not it’s safe for you to drink, ask your surgeon or nurse before making any decisions.
Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine is a diuretic that can cause dehydration, which can make you feel worse after surgery. To avoid feeling dehydrated, avoid caffeinated beverages and foods like coffee, tea or chocolate. You also should not smoke or drink alcohol during rhinoplasty recovery.
Weigh your options
It is not uncommon for people to undergo rhinoplasty because they want to change their looks. However, it is important that you weigh your options before deciding on undergoing the procedure. Make sure that you have all the information regarding the process so that you know what to expect after it is done.
Ask for help
You may be eager to get back on your feet as soon as possible after rhinoplasty. However, it’s important not to rush things too much. This could lead to complications such as bleeding or infection. To avoid these problems, ask for help instead of trying to do everything yourself right away. Your family members can help out with simple tasks like cooking meals or bringing you water while you’re recovering at home.
Practice good hygiene
A lot of people think they’ll be fine skipping their regular hygiene routines during recovery, but this isn’t true. It’s important to practice good hygiene during all phases of rhinoplasty recovery. This means bathing daily, brushing your teeth twice daily and keeping your hands clean at all times. If you have any cuts or scrapes on your hands or face from accidents or other causes, keep those areas covered with bandages until they heal completely so that bacteria isn’t introduced into your body through the open wounds.
Don’t wear glasses for the first 7 days.
The nasal packing inserted inside your nose will cause discomfort when you try on glasses or contact lenses. You should wait until after seven days so that it has time to dissolve and doesn’t block your vision while wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses again.
Don’t Blow Your Nose
If you want to avoid blowing your nose during recovery, that’s fine as long as it doesn’t cause discomfort. Blowing your nose too often can lead to bleeding and bruising around the nostrils, which can delay healing time. Also remember not to pick at scabs or force any swelling down with pressure from your fingers or hands.
Use ice to keep your face from swelling.
Ice helps constrict blood vessels and reduce bleeding, which can minimize swelling after surgery. It also keeps blood flow below the surface of your skin and away from your face, which prevents bruising and discoloration.
DO NOT put any topical substances or oils inside your nostrils.
Rhinoplasty patients are often advised to avoid putting anything inside their nostrils for a few weeks after surgery. This includes substances like hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel and alcohol, as well as oil-based products like petroleum jelly, which can cause excess swelling on the sensitive skin of your nose. If you have to apply something inside your nostrils during recovery, use saline solution instead of water so that it doesn’t dry out the skin inside your nose.
Keep your head elevated above the rest of your body at all times.
Sitting or lying down for too long can cause blood to pool in your legs, which can lead to swelling and bruising. Therefore, it is important to keep your head elevated above the rest of your body at all times. You can use pillows or even a towel to prop up your head while you are sitting or lying down. This will help reduce swelling and bruising significantly.
