We searched for effective tips for you to speed up recovery after Rhinoplasty. After this procedure, providing your body with the rest it needs is essential to your aesthetic nose surgery intervention. A Rhinoplasty is a complex procedure that involves significant trauma to the nose. Proper post-operative care is critical to have the best chance of a short and comfortable recovery period.
It is important to avoid exercise for at least the first four weeks of your Rhinoplasty procedure. In other words, you cannot lift weights, do squats, run or do aerobic exercises within 4 weeks following your Rhinoplasty. After 4 weeks, you can return to your regular exercise routine. In most patients, it takes about 6 weeks for the nasal bones to heal after surgery.
During this time, you should avoid strenuous exercise. Even seemingly harmless movements such as reaching, lifting, or bending can increase nasal swelling.
After Rhinoplasty, you will need to sleep on your back with your head on two pillows for at least a week to minimize swelling. Your surgeon may want you to continue to sleep on your back for a while to avoid damaging the nasal tissues. It is possible to sunbathe and swim in the sea for 2 weeks after the doctor takes the nasal splint.
However, while the nose is still sensitive, direct sunlight can cause discoloration and should be avoided. If you’re out in the sun, it’s essential to use broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect yourself.
9 Important Tips to Speed Up Healing After Rhinoplasty
Here are 9 important tips to speed up healing after Rhinoplasty:
Aftercare Process is Essential on the First Days
What to do in the first days after Rhinoplasty? What care should you take? First, keep your head up, sleep in a semi-reclining position in the first few days, and don’t eat foods that are too hot or require much chewing. For the first two weeks, you should not drink alcoholic beverages avoid smoking and passive smoking.
You should also avoid activities that require contact or physical exertion and not force your nose, which is very important for the after Rhinoplasty period. Also, if you have to sneeze, you should do it with your mouth open.
In addition, we advise you to talk as little as possible and not act with your face; try not to laugh or cry. These movements can cause healing problems. You should follow these recommendations for the first 10 days after Rhinoplasty.
Of course, you may have bruises on your face in the first days, which will increase in the first two or three days. You may also have minor bleeding and headaches and notice your nose is stuffy. These side effects aren’t alarming and will disappear as the days pass. You will use the plugs that the doctor puts on your nostrils after the surgery, thanks to the minimally invasive techniques that the doctor will apply. If necessary, your doctor can remove it within the first 24 hours. But the splint should stay for about 6-7 days.
When cleaning daily, try to keep the nose area dry. Consider that the operated site should remain as dry as possible. It would be better to do it with cold water while washing your face and without wetting the treated area. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, your doctor will tell you when to use them again. Usually, you can use contact lenses three days after the operation and glasses after about 3 weeks.
You will start to see definite results 1 month after the surgery, and you will be able to lead an everyday life, although you need a certain amount of care. You mustn’t sunbathe during the first few months, avoid cold and wind in the operation area, and don’t make sudden movements that will affect the operation area.
Don’t Blow Your Nose Hard
Patients’ most frequently asked question after Rhinoplasty is, ‘Is it harmful to blow your nose after Rhinoplasty?‘. Since the nasal area is susceptible for the first few weeks after Rhinoplasty, you should avoid excessively sniffing or blowing your nose.
Otherwise, the stitches may tear, or your nose may be severely damaged. Trying to breathe through your mouth or sneezing with your mouth open can help relieve pressure in your nose.
Never Compare Rhinoplasty Results with Anyone Else
You must understand that no two Rhinoplasty results are the same. It’s usually not a good idea to compare your results with those of others significantly before you’ve fully recovered. Some noses have become fashionable in plastic surgery clinics and cause many question marks. The medical advice isn’t to get too caught up in these trends. However, it’s crucial to have an orientation on how you want your nose to look. These indications will serve as a guide for surgeons to achieve the desired result.
It would be best if you conveyed your expectations to the healthcare team, and you can use the nose and face pictures in your mind for this. Remember that the professionals caring for you have extensive experience and knowledge in plastic surgery. They will recommend the best option based on your facial features and considering the expectations you have created.
It would be a good decision to leave yourself to your surgeon’s guidance. Rely on the professional judgment and skill of the surgeon. Discussing realistic expectations with your surgeon before surgery is the best way to avoid surprises or disappointments afterward.
Don’t Participate in Environmental Pressures
Sometimes, people who want to have Rhinoplasty come to the consultations of plastic surgeons because they experience social pressure even from their closest environment. Don’t get caught up in what others want to see about you; no matter what suggestions you get from the environment, how you look and feel with your face is essential.
Even before Rhinoplasty, it is vital to think about whether you really want to have surgery, whether you wish to change your face in a certain way and whether you want to have a different nose. Then only you will appear in front of the mirror yourself. If you’re going to have Rhinoplasty, do it safely and without pressure from third parties, even if they are very close people.
Avoid Excessive Chewing
As strange as this may sound, eating foods that require less effort to chew can aid recovery. Of course, you must take the drugs in the doses and times specified by the doctor. Don’t take medications not authorized by the surgeon on your own. If you have any doubts, consult your doctor, who will tell you which medicine to take.
You can wear glasses while the splint is in place. After the sling removes, it should be suspended from the forehead or rested on the cheek for six weeks. This is very important; high pressure on the nose can completely change the final shape of the nose. Contact lenses can be placed one week after surgery.
Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol
It would be best to avoid smoking for the first four weeks after the intervention, as smoking can hinder healing. Alcohol intake is at a higher risk of excessive bleeding and should avoid for the first few weeks. In addition, alcohol can interact with medications prescribed by your surgeon.
However, experts recommend not smoking for 15 days before the nose job operation. Let your body get rid of nicotine by eliminating the habit of smoking 2-3 weeks before the surgery. In this way, your arteries regain their former dimensions, and blood reaches all tissues in the usual way.
Smoking causes vasoconstriction in blood capillaries and makes it difficult for nutrients and oxygen to reach the nasal area, in the case of Rhinoplasty. As a result, the healing capacity reduces. Never smoke before, during, or after the surgery.
When can you smoke again after Rhinoplasty?
Medical advice is that you should not smoke until 6 weeks after the intervention. Smoking before these 6 weeks can hinder healing and cause further inflammation at the surgical site.
However, one week before the Rhinoplasty operation, surgeons don’t recommend alcohol consumption. But first of all, you should not drink alcohol the day before the procedure. Alcohol significantly increases the likelihood of bleeding before and after any surgical procedure. Consumption after surgery is also not recommended after at least two weeks. Alcohol interferes with the effectiveness of the medications we take after the intervention. In the case of Rhinoplasty, it can further dry out the skin and increase swelling.
Don’t Clean Inside the Nose
Some bleeding and a runny nose are standard in the first few days or weeks after a Rhinoplasty procedure. However, you must follow your surgeon’s instructions for cleaning.
As we mentioned above, don’t blow your nose; however, never get into the nose. Avoid cleaning the inside of your nose with a cotton swab or tissue. However, we recommend that you clean the edge of the nose.
Beware of Infection After Rhinoplasty
It would be best if you always tried to keep the dressings clean to avoid infection immediately after Rhinoplasty. You can apply cold compresses to the area to reduce swelling. After the operation, avoid touching the wound, don’t insert any objects into the nostrils, and rest; don’t exert unnecessary physical effort.
Regarding head position, we recommend keeping your upper body slightly elevated for at least the first day after nose surgery. With this somewhat elevated head position, pressure on the sutures prevents and reduces inflammation—there rais pillows designed for such requirements. But if you don’t have this type of pillow, you can place several pillows or cushions to maintain this position.
In addition, wearing a button-up shirt or hoodie may be beneficial for at least the first few days after Rhinoplasty, as clothing that covers your head increases the risk of bumping your nose.
Eat Healthy and Boost Your Mood
You know that nutrition is critical in the postoperative period. For this, eat green leafy vegetables, protein, and fewer carbohydrates in this process.
It’s also not uncommon for patients to go through mild depression after plastic surgery. This usually happens the second week after surgery; some swelling and bruising remain and the patient is still dying to see the final result. Understand that this is a temporary situation and everything will get better. Focus on diligently following wound care, among other activities that will help you divert your mind.
Finally, if there is something wrong with your recovery after Rhinoplasty or if it is taking longer than expected, don’t hesitate to contact your surgeon for a follow-up.
Attention! For information purposes only
Please note that the content of this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult a dermatologist for a personal consultation.
