Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery that allows you to effectively correct post-traumatic consequences, fully restore tissue structures, correct nasal breathing, and also adjust the shape or size of the nose for aesthetic purposes.
The procedure is a complex surgical procedure, since this organ functions continuously, is involved in the breathing process, warms, humidifies and disinfects the air. Due to its complexity, the recovery period takes more time compared to other types of plastic correction and requires the patient to strictly follow the surgeon's recommendations and prescriptions.
The speed and features of rehabilitation are individual and depend on many factors: the complexity and volume of the surgical intervention, correction methods, the patient's health status, the qualifications of the doctor, etc.
Phases of rehabilitation after rhinoplasty
The exact timing of the recovery period is determined individually in each clinical situation, but any rehabilitation can be conditionally divided into several phases.
On the day of the nose job
The correction takes an average of 2-4 hours and is usually carried out under anesthesia, so the patient is under observation in the clinic on the first day after the procedure. Drowsiness, weakness and apathy may occur for several hours, but these symptoms disappear quickly and after 3-4 hours the patient can move and eat independently. Difficulty breathing through the nose may occur due to nasal splints and swelling. Hematomas often occur around the eyes and near the nose. The next day, the patient receives all the necessary recommendations and is discharged home.
Stage I – the first 7 days after correction
During this period, the patient's nose is fixed with a splint that prevents displacement of the structures, and silicone splints are inserted into the nasal passages, allowing nasal breathing to be maintained. All of this can lead to discomfort in the first few days - a feeling of tightness, a feeling of foreign body, a feeling of heaviness. The early postoperative phase is also characterized by pain, severe swelling and possible hematomas.
At this stage, it is necessary to take medications recommended by the doctor, rinse the nose, maintain complete rest, avoid any physical activity, sleep on your back with the head of the bed elevated, and refrain from wearing makeup.
Stage II – 7-14 days after plastic surgery
The patient's well-being improves, pain disappears, hematomas resolve, the main swelling begins to subside, but remains on the tip of the nose, back and sides. After about 10 days, the doctor removes the plaster splint, stitches and removes the splints. Restrictions continue to apply to physical activity, hot and cold water treatments, the use of decorative cosmetics and sun exposure.
Stage III – 2 weeks to 1 month after rhinoplasty
All signs of surgery disappear on the face and improvement in the shape of the nose is observed. Until the end of stage 3, physiotherapeutic measures to strengthen the new structures of the nose are indicated. After 3-4 weeks, the patient can return to the usual rhythm of life and go to work.
Stage IV – 6 months – 1 year
During this period, the nose takes on the desired ideal shape, scars become invisible, all tissues are completely restored and at the same time all restrictions and prohibitions are lifted. After one year, cosmetic procedures in the nose area are allowed.
What does the patient need to pay particular attention to during the recovery phase?
Special attention must be paid to nasal hygiene and safety. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- Do not remove or cut the suture threads yourself;
- Avoid mechanical impact on the nose area.
- Treat the operated area with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection.
- If there is discharge, you should not blow your nose; You need to clean the nasal passages carefully and with sterile cotton swabs;
- It is permissible to rinse the nose with a sea salt solution.
If symptoms such as hyperthermia (temperature above 38 degrees), nausea, rash, hyperemia, increased pain at the surgical site, persistent nosebleeds, shortness of breath occur, you should immediately consult a plastic surgeon.
Recommendations of a plastic surgeon to speed up and facilitate the recovery period
In order to make the rehabilitation period faster, as comfortable and free from complications as possible, it is advisable to follow some of the surgeon's recommendations, namely:
- After the manipulation, sleep only on your back with the head of the bed raised. This increases fluid drainage from the head and reduces swelling.
- Use cold compresses to reduce swelling. The compress is placed on the area next to the nose, and not on the organ itself.
- After removing the splint, a massage is allowed aimed at activating the facial lymph nodes, which also reduces swelling, improves blood circulation and regeneration (active measures are not acceptable, the massage consists in applying light pressure with the fingers according to the principle "finger touch" - "light pressure for 30 seconds" - "release");
- To speed up the absorption of hematomas, special ointments recommended by the doctor can be applied to them.
Physiotherapeutic procedures have also proven successful; the patient is prescribed microcurrents, ultrasound therapy, phonophoresis and mesotherapy. All procedures are carried out after removing the bandage; the specific type of procedure and its frequency are determined by the doctor, taking into account the patient's condition.
Postoperative appointments with a plastic surgeon
The patient needs to see a plastic surgeon for follow-up care at certain times:
- 7 days after manipulation;
- 1 month after the procedure;
- 2 months later;
- in 3 months;
- in six months;
- In a year.
After about 7-10 days, the doctor will remove the plaster splint. If the condition worsens or complications arise, an emergency visit to the surgeon is required.
taking medication
The use of local and systemic medications should only be as directed by the plastic surgeon. If necessary, analgesics to relieve pain, diuretics to reduce swelling, drugs to improve microcirculation, and vitamin therapy in the postoperative autumn and winter period can be recommended. A sea salt solution is prescribed for nasal irrigation, and ointments are sometimes recommended to optimize blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Nutrition and diet
The postoperative period involves some dietary restrictions. An important prerequisite for correct and rapid regeneration is facial rest, so it is recommended to minimize the activity of the chewing muscles.
On the day of cosmetic surgery, you should stick to a light diet with liquid foods, the next day regular food intake is allowed, but you must avoid coarse and hard foods that require chewing force for 2 weeks, the food itself should be at a comfortable temperature. For a month after plastic surgery, it is recommended to limit the consumption of salty, sweet and smoked foods - foods that retain fluid in the body, thereby increasing swelling. To improve metabolic processes, it is advisable to eat fractional balanced meals 5-6 times a day.
restrictions
Rhinoplasty does not limit the patient's social life, but during the recovery period it is recommended to pay more attention to health and focus on personal feelings: if any actions are accompanied by discomfort, you should avoid them. Also, during rehabilitation, it is advisable to refuse:
- active nose blowing – only careful cleaning of the nasal passages is permissible;
- Sleeping on your stomach and on your side – the optimal resting position is on your back;
- wear glasses, including prescription glasses, for at least 2 months;
- weight lifting and physical activity;
- visiting a solarium, bathhouse, sauna;
- Showering in extreme temperatures.
Various experiments with traditional medicine are strictly prohibited, especially with "solutions" from food, hot compresses from salt, etc. It is also important to remember that in the first two weeks you should not touch your nose, so you should be careful forFor a comfortable wardrobe, it is better to use clothes with a zipper or buttons.
Visible result
The first visible result can be assessed about a month after correction, when the postoperative manifestations disappear. After 6-8 months the nose takes on a clearer shape, the final result can be achieved in a year. With non-surgical rhinoplasty, the final result is visible a few hours after the procedure.
FAQ
When can you go to the solarium after the operation?
Ultraviolet radiation and the thermal effect dilate blood vessels and capillaries, which can cause bleeding, increase swelling, and slow soft tissue regeneration. You can visit the solarium no earlier than 6 weeks after rhinoplasty, when the hematomas have completely subsided and the edema syndrome has passed.
When can you exercise after a nose job?
Exercise leads to an increase in heart rate and increased blood flow, especially blood flow to the face. Therefore, all activities must be postponed by 2-3 months and the return to professional sport by at least six months.
When can you have sex after a nose job?
Sex is a fairly significant physical activity that should be avoided in the first 2-3 weeks after correction, otherwise bleeding and increased swelling are possible, and even the slightest touch to the nose can deform the organ and affect the final result.
When can you wash after surgery?
3-5 days after correction, showering is allowed, only the water should be warm. It is important that the plaster does not get wet; it must remain dry as the first change is only possible 5 days after application.
When can you drink alcohol after surgery?
Ethyl alcohol, which is contained in all alcoholic beverages without exception, slows down tissue regeneration and has a negative effect on blood vessels and the heart. Therefore, it is extremely important to avoid alcoholic beverages for at least a month after surgery.
How long does the swelling last after surgery?
Tissue swelling is a standard phenomenon after rhinoplasty. Swelling peaks approximately 3 days after correction, when swelling is noticeable in the nose, eyelids, cheeks, and in some cases chin, and then gradually subsides. Noticeable manifestations disappear within 1-3 weeks. Residual compactions that are invisible to others disappear after 6-8 months.
How long after surgery can I go to the bathhouse?
For 2 months after rhinoplasty, you should not expose your body to intense heat or sudden temperature changes. Accordingly, you should avoid bathing, sunbathing (including solariums) and contrast showers during this period.
Diploma
Rhinoplasty is a fairly complex plastic surgery that is performed not only for aesthetic but also for therapeutic purposes. The level of complexity is determined by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the organ and its continuous function. The duration of rehabilitation after plastic surgery is different and depends on the type of surgical intervention, the complexity and extent of the correction, and the individual characteristics of the patient. In order to ensure that the recovery period is as comfortable and quick as possible, no complications arise and the final result corresponds to your wishes, it is extremely important to responsibly follow the recommendations of the plastic surgeon in the postoperative period and strictly follow all his instructions.