There’s nothing more exciting than finally seeing the results of your rhinoplasty procedure, especially if you’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. But, after the surgery, you need to be patient as rushing the process can leave you with unhealed results.
Luckily, there are some tips you can follow to help speed up the recovery period so you can see your results sooner. These tips are essential to unveiling a healthy and healed nose, so make note of them before you undergo the procedure!
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2. Make Sure Your Head is Elevated
10. Don’t Smoke Post-procedure
1. Listen to Your Surgeon
This advice goes for every surgery, however, we’re going to stress it again here! When you undergo rhinoplasty, your doctor will give you a personalized plan for your post-op recovery. This will include vital information like what medications are needed and what you should and shouldn’t do. There’s a lot of helpful information online, but you should always put your surgeon’s advice first.
2. Make Sure Your Head is Elevated
Though it can feel uncomfortable, keeping your head elevated when resting and sleeping will minimize swelling and bruising. This is very important in the first three weeks and you should try to do it for as long as six weeks to help your recovery. If you know you move about a lot when asleep, it can be helpful to sleep with a travel pillow.
3. Try a Cold Compress
In the first few days post-surgery, you’re likely to experience a lot of swelling. A great way to reduce this discomfort is with a cold compress. Make sure you apply this compress to your cheeks, but not directly onto the nose. Applying a heavy compress to your nose can accidentally move cartilage and bones. This is most helpful in the first 72 hours after surgery.
4. Keep Up a Healthy Diet
A balanced diet is always important, but it can be vital when recovering from cosmetic surgery. Make sure you’re giving your body the fuel it needs to heal well. This means a good variety of vitamins and proteins should be on the menu post-op!
5. Rest Well
Rest is another essential element of recovery. This is another common tip for all post-op recoveries and for the most part, this is all you’ll want to do for the first week anyway. It can be helpful to arrange for a family member or friend to stay with you for the initial healing as they can help you with day-to-day tasks and food preparation. The key is to save your body’s energy so it can be focused on healing.
6. Avoid Blowing Your Nose
It’s common for rhinoplasty patients to experience slight nasal congestions after surgery. This is caused by swollen tissue, however, you must avoid blowing your nose as this can disturb healing. It’s also advised that patients sneeze with their mouths to ensure the nasal passage isn’t damaged.
7. Don’t Exercise
Not being able to resume exercise routines is frustrating for some, but your nose is very fragile after the operation. Any strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least six weeks and you should check with your doctor before starting again.
8. Avoid Wearing Glasses
Unfortunately, glasses can put unnecessary pressure on your nose and this can disrupt healing or cause unintentional bruising. In extreme cases, glasses can even cause slight indentations. If you can start wearing contact lenses while healing, but if this isn’t possible only wear very lightweight glasses and only use them when necessary.
9. Stay Out of the Sunlight
Though you may be tempted, you should stay out of direct sunlight and avoid prolonged exposure when healing. This can increase nasal swelling and it can also cause scarring to darken. After surgery, your nose may also be more prone to burning as it’s more sensitive too.
10. Don’t Smoke Post-procedure
Many doctors will instruct their patients to stop smoking for up to two weeks before the surgery and another two weeks after. This is due to the fact nicotine can limit blood flow. Limited blood flow often results in slower healing and a higher risk of complications. If possible, you should also avoid any secondhand smoke too.
11. Keep Cool
A hot soup or shower may sound relaxing, but this won’t complement your swollen nose! Any excess heat can result in your nasal tissues swelling even more. To avoid any extra swelling or bruising, eat room-temperature food, shower in lukewarm water, and avoid any saunas after your rhinoplasty operation.
12. Listen to Your Body
Recovery after rhinoplasty follows a standard healing process, however, you know your body best. If something feels off or painful, make sure you consult your doctor or a medical professional. A doctor will always be able to tell how you’re healing on the outside, but they may not recognize if something is off straight away.
13. Patience is Key
One of the most important tips is to be patient! Undergoing rhinoplasty is exciting and you might be in a rush to reveal your results, but you’ve got to take the recovery time seriously. The general healing time for rhinoplasty does take a while, but sticking to these steps will leave you with better results.
How Can Beautifi Help?
Rhinoplasty is a life-changing surgery for many patients and understandably you want to see your new nose aesthetic as soon as possible. To ensure you get the best results possible, always follow your surgeons’ advice and stick to the recommended healing program. The Beautifi team is always here to help when choosing a surgeon or financially planning for a cosmetic procedure. Learn how our process works or fill out an application to start your procedure journey!