Rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgeries in the world. Many people are undergoing this procedure to alter the appearance of their noses or improve breathing. Regardless of what motivates you to undergo rhinoplasty, you need to understand the recovery process. This article tells you everything you need to know about recovery from rhinoplasty.
What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to change the appearance of your nose. If your nose is crooked, you can rectify it through rhinoplasty. Your nose comprises bone (upper part of your nose), cartilage (lower part of your nose), and skin. This plastic surgery can be used to fix both the upper and lower parts of your nose. But the decision to have rhinoplasty should come from your plastic surgeon after an examination.
The main reason why your surgeon may recommend rhinoplasty for you is to change the shape, size, or proportion of your nose. It can also be done to correct deformities or reconstruct your nose after an injury or severe infection. Children born with defective noses can also undergo this procedure to improve their breathing.
How to Recover from Rhinoplasty
Since rhinoplasty is an invasive procedure, you will need to take a rest to allow your wounds to heal and your body to recover. Your surgeon will advise you on how to take care of yourself during recovery. For instance, you’ll need to keep your head raised above your chest even when lying in bed to minimize bleeding and inflammation.
Your nose might feel stuffy because of the surgeon’s swelling or splint put inside your nose. You should keep the internal dressing for seven days to prevent bleeding and promote faster healing. Your surgeon will put a splint around your nose for safety and support. The splint should remain in place for a week.
You might notice a few drops of blood and mucus coming from your nose when you remove the dressing and the splint. Therefore, your plastic surgeon may tape a drip pad (a piece of gauze) inside your nostrils to absorb the mucus. During recovery, you should avoid vigorous activities like heavy lifting and aerobics, soaking showers, blowing your nose, extreme facial expressions, and wearing clothes that require pulling on and off.
Brush your teeth gently to avoid strenuous movements of your upper lip. Also, eat foods rich in fiber to prevent constipation because it can lead to straining when passing stool, putting pressure on the wound. It will take about six weeks for the bone, cartilage, and skin on your nose to heal.
