Last week we wrote about nose jobs, what are the basic types of this procedure, why is there swelling and how long does it take to subside. Today we will dive in a bit further into this topic and wee what are the best ways to reduce swelling and ensure best possible results.
What are the stages of healing after a nose job?
You can’t expect to achieve full recover after a nose job in a matter of days. Just like with every other surgery, recovery will take some time. But there are ways you can make this process more manageable and to keep track of your progress.
Day of surgery
Nose jobs are commonly done under general anesthesia and you will need to stay in the hospital overnight. Sometimes, patients do get to go home the very same day, but only if they are cleared by the cosmetic surgeon and medical team.
Before you leave, the cosmetic surgeon will give you a list of instructions that you need to follow in order to make the recover more comfortable. This list might also include some medication which will help you with the pain and prevent infections. Make sure that you take them as prescribed.
Some surgeons don’t even use nasal packing when they are performing an intranasal spint. They believe that this is a much safer and comfortable option. Instead of the packing, they use dissolving sutures. These sutures will ensure that the septum remains in the proper position for several weeks, while it heals. This is not only safer, but more stable and can provide better results.
Care after a nose job
What you do after you leave your cosmetic surgeon’s office, greatly determines the outcome and end results of the nose job. So here are a few tips:
Use saline rinse to wash-out your nose at least three times a day. This will keep the surgical site clean, wash out any bacteria and promote faster and better healing.
Your nostrils and the incision site in most cases get really dry and you will need to keep them moist and soft. We recommend using ointments and Dr. Kotoske will recommend the one you should use.
You might have heard that it’s not safe to blow your nose after a rhinoplasty. This isn’t true. In fact, you should definitely blow your nose after every saline wash-out and whenever you need it.
If you received a cast after your nose job, during your fist post-op visit, the cosmetic surgeon will remove it and vacuum out your nose. This is usually one week after surgery and the majority of the swelling should have subsided. The black eye and bruises should slowly fade.
You may notice that in the first few weeks after the surgery, that your face appears to be asymmetrical and your nose might look a bit “fat”. This is all due to the bruising so you shouldn’t worry about it. It will pass.
Due to swelling, your nose will have a different shape and you might experience some breathing difficulties. This is totally normal and it will improve as the swelling goes down.
First few weeks after the surgery
After the first couple of weeks the swelling will subside further and you will notice major changes on your nose. And the new shape will become more distinguishable.
The under-eye bruising that you had before will most likely be gone completely.
Once you pass the 2-week mark, you will be able to return to your normal routine such as exercising, going to the gym, running, doing yoga etc.
However, we must emphasize that you should avoid any contact sport for at least 6 weeks. Your nose might look good on the outside, but the inside can be fragile and you don’t want something hitting you in the nose.
Patients that normally wear prescription glasses, should switch to lenses. Glasses can leave “foot prints” on your nose.
Between weeks 3 and 4, you will be really impressed with how your new nose looks and that all signs of the surgery are almost gone
By the time you reach week 6, the nasal structure of your new nose will stabilize, you can start wearing eyewear and playing contact sport.
First 12 months after a nose job
Between the thirds and sixth month post-surgery your nose will start to appear more refined and the remaining swelling will continue to decrease. The skin might look a bit swollen but with one or two shorts of steroid (your cosmetic surgeon will decide whether you need it) to speed up the recovery process.
After surgery you might experience some sensation problems inside your nose. If you have, then this should clear up by now.
Once you hit that “one-year mark” you can consider the healing process complete. However, if you had revision surgery, the healing might take a bit longer.
As you can see, recovery after a nose job, just like with any other surgery takes time. But just because things aren’t happening fast, doesn’t mean that they won’t happen. Patience is key and we hope that this breakdown of the healing timeline will help you understand the process better.
