A Perfect Nose in Three Months: Some Tips and a Detailed Timeline for Recovering from Rhinoplasty
As is the case with most cosmetic surgeries, patients undergoing rhinoplasty are often curious about the recovery process. Generally simple and quick, recovery from this procedure consists of at-home care, the wearing of an external splint, and some downtime to ensure the best results.
Recovery Timeline
To reduce swelling, patients should ice the swollen area for eight to twelve hours after the surgery. Patients generally experience swelling for seven days. Patients must also wear an external splint for a period of four to five days. Most patients will be able to return to work or school after about a week. For around ten days after the procedure, patients will see bruising surrounding the site of the surgery. After a month, most of the swelling will be gone. Patients will need to be cautious and avoid nose contact for a period of three months so their nasal bones regain enough strength to withstand trauma. A reduction in dorsal swelling may occur over a period of years, but patients will generally be fully recovered from the rhinoplasty by the end of three months.
Tips For Better Recovery
Aside from avoiding hard contact with the site of the surgery, patients can use ice to reduce swelling and bruising. Patients could also use Vitamin K gel to boost the healing process. To prevent complications, patients should avoid medications that promote bleeding because they may slow down the recovery time. Similarly, patients should reduce their alcohol and caffeine consumption because they also promote bleeding. Patients should also avoid blowing their nose for a period of three weeks.
Compared to other surgeries, rhinoplasty requires a relatively short recovery time without much at-home care. Your doctor should have some of their own guidelines to follow and will definitely require a follow-up appointment. In the meantime, these tips allow patients to boost their healing and get the best results on their own.
