Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is a procedure that helps to improve the shape and function of the nose. While it is an excellent technique for people unsatisfied with the form and size of their nose, it does entail some recovery time.
Here are some step-by-step recovery guidelines that will lead you through a timeline of what happens after your nose surgery and how to ease the recovery process and return to your usual activities.
Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline
Patients are always curious about what happens during the recovery period; how their nose will look and feel like a few days, weeks, months, or even years after surgery. With decades of expertise in nose cosmetic procedures, our specialists at Novomed will explain every aspect of the healing process, so you can have a good understanding of what to expect at each stage after the procedure.
One Week After Rhinoplasty
The plastic protective cover around the outside of the nose should be left intact for 4 to 6 days. After it is removed, you can see minor improvement, albeit with bruising and swelling.
For example, patients will notice that nose bumps are gone, swelling is resolving with each passing day, and any discoloration softens in tone, changing from purple to green to yellow, which means it will be easy to conceal using makeup.
Two Weeks After Rhinoplasty
The following week is mainly the period in which the swelling fades. If there’s any bruising, it’s usually also healed by the end of the second week, so you should be in excellent condition.
At this stage, you don’t need much medical attention unless you have complications from an accident, prior surgery, or breathing treatments.
One Month After Rhinoplasty
The nose will steadily improve during the third and fourth weeks. Most patients are usually pleased with the shape of their nose at this stage and can resume their everyday activities.
Three Months After Rhinoplasty
Usually, 3-month results are believed to be incredibly near to the final outcome and they will look even better after 1 year.
One Year After Rhinoplasty
The ultimate results will be visible after a one-year timeframe. Doctor visits will be unnecessary at this point, but Novomed patients will be provided with appointments as needed.
Rhinoplasty Recovery Tips: Do’s and Don’ts
The following recovery tips are important if you want to guarantee that your rhinoplasty results are as good as they can be. To do list includes:
- USE COLD COMPRESSES
Control swelling with an ice pack or cooling cloth to relieve pressure and discomfort around the targeted area. This is exceptionally critical in the days immediately following surgery. The ice will reduce inflammation and assist your nose to recover more rapidly by restricting blood flow to the area. Make sure the compress isn’t directly applied on your nose. Rather, dab it to your cheekbones so that no bones or tissues are accidentally shifted.
- Keep Your Head Elevated
It’s vital to keep your head uplifted in a straight vertical posture as often as possible to ensure appropriate blood circulation and avoid any injuries. However, during the first 6 weeks or so after surgery, you’ll have to sleep in an upright position and resist flipping down your stomach or sides since this may cause your nose to relocate while it heals.
One of the easiest ways to do so is to prop your head up on two or three pillows or use a travel pillow if you tend to toss and turn at night.
- Follow A Healthy Diet and Drink Plenty of Water
Maintaining a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water will boost your immune system to recover quickly and feel much better sooner. Proper nutrition provides your body with the energy it requires to recover and heal.
Water promotes treatment by cleaning out anesthetic toxins, decreasing the chance of infection, and delivering nutrients and oxygen to body tissues.
Your diet should also include a lot of vitamins. Vitamin A, which is frequently found in green vegetables like spinach and kale, is a great immune stimulant that can help you prevent inflammation after surgery.
Vitamin C helps you restore collagen (the protein that binds your skin’s tissues together). Excellent sources of Vitamin C include Citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
Moreover, protein is required to form skin, bone, cartilage, and bloodstream. Nuts, meat, eggs, dairy, seafood, and other protein-rich meals will enable your system to repair injured skin all across your nose.
- Take a Bath Instead of Shower
After a rhinoplasty, the stitches, splints, and braces applied in and around your nose should not be moist. Bathing rather than showering makes it safer to avoid getting your bandages damp. Cleaning your face with a wet towel around the bandages can also help keep your skin hydrated on the surface. The gauze should be removed within the first week after the surgery, so this process shouldn’t take too long.
In addition to the tips mentioned above, it’s important to adhere to some of the don’ts points clarified in the following:
- Avoid Blowing YOUR NOSE
You’ll experience some blockage for a few weeks, if not months, after surgery due to swollen nasal tissues. Refrain from blowing your nose and instead consult your doctor about using a saline nasal spray to gently cleanse your nasal cavity from mucus while the swelling subsides.
On this same point, you should resist any direct physical contact with your nose, including wearing sunglasses, face masks, and even scratching an itch. Any Injury can occur at the tiniest touch for the first six weeks after surgery.
You’re probably now wondering about what happens when you sneeze? Well, instead of sneezing through your nostrils, try sneezing through your mouth. It may sound horrible, but it’s safer than harming your delicate nasal passages and prolonging your healing period.
- Don’t take medications without consulting your surgeon
You will feel some discomfort and irritation in the first few weeks after surgery, particularly in the first week. Painkillers or other medications will be supplied or suggested by your doctors to help you cope with the post-operative symptoms. The dosages and painkillers will be tailored to your needs, ensuring that they do not disrupt your healing process or create any negative side effects that would slow down the recovery period.
Anti-inflammatory medications can develop swelling and increase blood circulation, which might result in bleeding or poor recovery. Therefore, it’s essential to consult your surgeon before using any anti-inflammatory pills.
- Stay Away from Extreme Activities
Your body will need to concentrate its resources on recovery after surgery, so the less vigorous physical movement you engage in, the better. You must avoid intense exercise throughout this period. Even relatively trivial movements like stretching, pushing and pulling, or arching over can cause nasal bruising. The goal is to allow your nose to repair and heal while avoiding any pressure or damage during the recovery process.
You can trust Novomed clinics all across the UAE to perform your rhinoplasty procedure. Our qualified medical staff worked with many clients to help them achieve their ideal facial symmetry, and we can help you too!
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