13 tips to speed up your recovery time after a nose job

You may want to see the results of a nose job (nose job) right away, but the recovery process will take time. A number of steps can be taken during this time to speed up the process and ensure proper healing.

Recovery time after rhinoplasty

The average recovery time after a nose job is one year. This may seem like a long time, but it becomes much more manageable when broken down into a time frame. The following steps to recovery from nasal surgery can vary from patient to patient, but this is what usually happens:

1 week after rhinoplasty:The splint that was put on during the rhinoplasty surgery can be removed and you can go outside without showing any noticeable signs of nasal surgery, as long as there are no bruises around your eyes. This can take 2 weeks. It is safe to resume daily life.

2 weeks after rhinoplasty:Most of the swelling on the face after the rhinoplasty has gone down and most of the bruising has gone.

3-4 weeks after rhinoplasty:You can safely return to normal physical activities such as jogging, swimming, and cycling.

6 weeks after rhinoplasty:The bones are stable, you can do resistance training (lifting weights), wear glasses and touch your nose. Minimal injuries are no longer scary.

3-6 months after rhinoplasty:Numbness and unusual sensations around the nose should go away.

1 year after rhinoplasty:The healing process is complete - the swelling should go away completely.

Is there any way I can speed up this schedule after a nose operation? In fact, there are many things you can do to make your recovery from nose surgery smoother. We recommend the following:

1. Listen to your doctor

Patient at the doctor's appointment

First, follow your doctor's instructions. You can read 100 of these articles online about nose job recovery, but nothing beats the information your plastic surgeon can give you. You will be given detailed instructions on what medications to take, when, how to care for the surgical site to avoid infection, and when to return for a further exam.

2. Listen to your body

Your plastic surgeon will be able to see your recovery from the rhinoplasty outward, but only you will know how you are feeling. Listen to your body - if something is wrong right after your rhinoplasty, speak to your doctor right away.

3. Hold your head up for days or weeks after the rhinoplasty

Girl's face after rhinoplasty

Sleeping on your side after a nose job is not only uncomfortable - it can also reduce recovery time by preventing extra bruising and swelling. To avoid surprises after a nose job, you need to keep your head elevated for 6 weeks after the surgery. One of the easiest ways to do this is to raise your head on two or three pillows. You can also sleep in a deck chair. If you tend to move around while sleeping, you can use a travel pillow or rolled towels to keep your head in place.

4. Use cold compresses after the rhinoplasty

Using a cold compress can help reduce swelling for the first 72 hours after nasal surgery. Be careful not to press the compress directly onto your nose. Instead, place it on your cheeks to avoid accidentally moving bones or cartilage.

5. Allow yourself plenty of rest after the rhinoplasty

The constipation you feel after nose surgery can make it difficult to fall asleep, but rest is an important part of the recovery process. Your body uses energy to heal itself, and when you get seven to eight hours of sleep each night, your body has time to reclaim that energy.

6. Eat a healthy diet after your nose job

Woman looks in the mirror

What does eating vegetables have to do with recovery from nose surgery? Actually very significant. Eating a balanced diet after a rhinoplasty will help speed the healing process by giving the body the nutrients it needs to heal itself.

Protein is an essential building block for skin, muscles, cartilage and blood. Eating a diet high in nuts, meat, eggs, yogurt, fish, and other high protein foods will help your body repair damaged tissues in and around your nose.

You should also make sure that you are getting plenty of vitamins in your diet, namely vitamin A and vitamin C. Vitamin A, which is usually found in dark, green leaves like spinach and kale, is a great immune booster that can boost the immune system to help youFight infection after a nose job. Vitamin C plays an important role in the regeneration of collagen, a protein that binds your skin tissues together. Citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C.

7. Remain calm after the rhinoplasty

Sauna, hot showers, and the heat of the sun can be a pleasant pastime, but they're not so good for your puffy nose. The heat makes the nasal tissue swell even more, so it's best to stick to a cool, spacious diet, take a warm shower, and stay away from the heat for several weeks after the rhinoplasty.

8. Do not blow your nose abruptly and abruptly after the rhinoplasty.

After a nose job, you may have difficulty breathing for several weeks, maybe even several months. This feeling is caused by swollen nasal tissue. Resist the urge to blow your nose and talk to your doctor about using nasal saline solution to gently moisturize your nasal passages until the swelling subsides. You can actively blow your nose again 6 weeks after the operation.

How about a sneeze? You can't just sneeze. Instead, try to sneeze through your mouth rather than your nose. It sounds gross, but it's better than damaging the fragile nasal passages and slowing down the rhinoplasty recovery time.

9. Avoid vigorous exercise after the rhinoplasty

Woman resting

For most patients, it takes about 6 weeks for the nasal bones to heal after surgery. Exhausting physical activity should be avoided during this time. Even harmless movements such as stretching, lifting, or bending can increase the swelling of the nose. Wait for the doctor to give you the green light to return to your normal activities after the rhinoplasty before easing your exercise.

10. Do not wear glasses after the rhinoplasty

Sunglasses, reading glasses, prescription glasses - anything that puts pressure on the nose during healing can cause additional bruising, swelling, or even dents that may require a second rhinoplasty.

Your plastic surgeon will advise when to wear glasses again. In the meantime, switch to contact lenses whenever possible. If this is not possible, wear the lightest frame and only wear it when absolutely necessary. If necessary, you can put a splint under the glasses that were on your nose after the rhinoplasty. It can be used with any pair of glasses.

11. Stay out of the sun after your nose job

It is always helpful to protect the skin from too much sun exposure, but this is especially important after a nose operation. Too much sun not only makes the nose more prone to sunburn for several weeks and months after the procedure, but it can also cause the scars to darken and the swelling to increase.

12. Don't smoke before and after your nose job

Both before and after a nose operation, it is important not to smoke and, if possible, to avoid secondhand smoke. Nicotine in tobacco products restricts blood flow, makes it difficult for the body to heal itself, and impairs recovery after plastic surgery, especially after nose surgery.

13. Be extra patient after the rhinoplasty!

First of all, be patient. You will recover and have the results you want from your nose job - it just takes time. The above steps won't turn a year-long recovery process into weeks, but they will help speed up the processes and improve the post-operative outcome of the rhinoplasty.

The recovery process after a nose job is different for each patient. But from the moment you schedule your first rhinoplasty consultation, your doctor will be with you every step of the way. If you have any questions about recovery or the procedure itself, don't hesitate to call your doctor or fill out the online contact form.

When it comes to a revision nose correction

If your nose surgery is not producing the results you want it can be a huge disappointment. After spending a considerable amount of money and having a long and uncomfortable recovery, you may face this terrible problem.

Either way: you are not alone. About a third of the patients are asked about the possibility of a correction or reoperation of the nasal plasty.

The good news is that in some cases it is possible to achieve the desired appearance through non-surgical methods. But when it comes to a revision rhinoplasty, follow these five steps to prepare for the revision rhinoplasty.

1. Make sure your nose is completely healed after the first rhinoplasty

Repaired woman's nose after rhinoplasty

First of all, your nose needs to be fully recovered from the first rhinoplasty in order to withstand another procedure. It usually takes a year to wait for a revision nose correction. Early revision surgery may not be warranted as it may not resolve all post-operative problems. For this reason, it is recommended that you do not discuss the rhinoplasty procedure until 12 months after the first rhinoplasty.

2. Carefully select a new facial plastic surgeon.

Doing a rhinoplasty again is more difficult than an initial rhinoplasty because there can be many complex problems that need to be addressed with the nasal tissue that has already been operated on. This requires a plastic surgeon with experience and knowledge to adequately address potential unforeseen problems.

Certification as a specialist is very important, but a qualified revision rhinoplasty surgeon should also actively pursue further training.

Dr. Farrior writes about himself like this: . . . . I'll use myself as an example so that you know which doctor to look for: I have taught rhinoplasty and revision nose surgery nationally and internationally and have published numerous articles and book chapters on the subject. In 2013 I was elected President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and am a past President of the Florida FPS Society.

3. How you decide to plan a revision rhinoplasty

The revision nose correction can be relatively simple - or extremely complex. It all depends on the following:

  • What is the degree of abnormalities caused by the first rhinoplasty?
  • How much septum cartilage will be removed during the first rhinoplasty?
  • What are the characteristics of your skin?
  • What is the passage of the nasal airways after rhinoplasty?

The only way to know for sure about all of this is to make an appointment for a consultation. During a physical exam, your surgeon can determine if there was any significant loss of structural support during the primary rhinoplasty. If it has happened, cartilage grafts often have to be performed with repeated rhinoplasty. Such grafts can be obtained from the septum, which nasal surgeons say is the best source of corrective material.

If the septal cartilage has previously been removed or damaged, it may be necessary to remove the cartilage from the ear or rib. Each of these types of transplants has advantages and disadvantages that will be discussed during the consultation.

a woman in consultation with a doctor

4. Get complete information from your previous nasal surgeon

A plastic surgeon can say a lot by just looking at your nose. However, in order to provide you with the maximum amount of information possible during the consultation, it is best to obtain and make available your pre-rhinoplasty photos and operative summary from a previous surgeon.

I understand that this can be an uncomfortable request for some patients, but there is nothing shameful or forbidden about it. A medical record is your property that you share with your doctor, not the other way around.

5. Plan to revise the cost of the nose job

The revision nose correction usually takes 2 to 5 hours and is performed under general anesthesia. It requires limited physical activity for six weeks after surgery. The splints stay in place for eight days after surgery, and some degree of nasal congestion and swelling occurs during the same time. More detailed information on postoperative restrictions will be discussed in the consultation.

Since the rhinoplasty is more complex and time-consuming than the first rhinoplasty, the cost is higher. Typically, a revision nose job costs 50-100% more than a primary nose job.

If your new nose isn't what you were hoping for, it's time to take the next step - seek professional advice.