Rhinoplasty Recovery Process & Timeline

The Day of Surgery

Rhinoplasty surgery typically takes around four hours and most patients return home that same day. How long you’ll need to remain in the recovery room after rhinoplasty varies based on whether or not you’ve had IV sedation or general anesthesia. General anesthesia typically requires a longer stay in the recovery room, as you need to wake up from the anesthetic. 

You’ll need to have a friend or relative take you home from the office, surgical center, or hospital after your surgery. Ideally, that person won’t just drive you home but will also stay with you overnight. 

Dr. Glasgold will put a splint on your nose and tape it to hold it in place. He’ll also place gauze under your nostrils and will give you instructions on how to change the gauze. 

First Day After Surgery

The day after your surgery, it’s important to rest as much as possible. Relax in a recliner and catch up on shows and movies or read. 

You might find that you need to change the gauze frequently during the first day after surgery and the following day. After that, drainage should subside significantly and you can remove the gauze or change it less often.

You may start to notice swelling and bruising under your eyes the day after surgery. Using an ice pack will help to reduce swelling.

Some people experience minor discomfort after rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can prescribe pain relievers to help manage this. It’s important to avoid certain over-the-counter pain meds, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, as they can increase the risk of bleeding.

During the First Week

Stay home as much as possible during the first week after your rhinoplasty. Dr. Glasgold, an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon new jersey, typically sees patients six to seven days following their surgery, so expect to have a follow-up visit about a week after your rhinoplasty.

During your first follow-up visit, the surgeon will remove the splint and examine your nose to make sure it’s healing well. By this point, you might still have some swelling but bruising should be considerably diminished.

Once the splint is off, you can start to shower again. You can also begin to wear makeup again if you wish.

During the Second Week

You’ll start to feel more and more like your old self again during the second week following rhinoplasty. Many patients find themselves ready to return to work or school around the 10-day mark.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel ready to go back to your routine yet. Some people need more time, particularly if they work in a physically demanding job. 

Speaking of physical demands, you’ll still want to take it pretty easy during the second week after your surgery. While you might feel up for taking a short walk around your neighborhood, now’s not the time to go back to the gym or try swimming.

When you do go outside, make sure to use sunscreen. Protecting your nose from sun exposure is critical for the healing process.

After One Month

One month after rhinoplasty New Jersey, your life might be more or less back to normal. Many patients get the all-clear from their surgeon to resume physical activities, including exercise and sex, at this point.

Don’t start up your workout routine again until you’ve gotten approval from Dr. Glasgold. Resuming exercise too early in the recovery process can negatively affect your results. Some types of exercise can increase the risk of injury to your nose and may need to be avoided for more than a month. 

Although you might worry about losing momentum or falling out of your exercise routine, it’s better to wait than to risk damaging your surgical results.

After Six Months

Many people see the full results from new jersey rhinoplasty within six months of the surgery. By the six-month mark, your life should be fully back to normal. Swelling and bruising might be entirely gone, and any that remains should be barely noticeable. 

If you don’t see the full, final results by six months after surgery, rest assured that it can take up to a year for the swelling to disappear. At that point, if you aren’t happy with the way your nose looks, you can start to discuss the possibility of a revision procedure with your surgeon.

Make Health a Priority

A smooth recovery begins before you even step into the operating room with proper nutrition and exercise. Your personal health will be a factor in determining your eligibility for rhinoplasty, and for good reason. When patients live healthy lifestyles and take care of themselves, they’ll see a lower risk of complications and a faster recovery time. To guarantee that you’re in your best health, you should have a healthy BMI, not smoke, and follow your doctor’s orders for blood work and other tests that will decide your overall health.

Prepare for Surgery

Your ability to relax and heal with as little stress or outside pressure as possible will contribute to a quicker recovery.  Before your surgery, take care of things such as paying bills, having enough groceries to get you through the first few days after surgery and catching up on work or school projects. Minimizing stressors in your life allows you to focus on what’s important: healing and recovering.

What Medications to Avoid

Make sure you inform your surgeon about every medication, including over-the-counter and supplements that you are currently taking, your surgeons will review with you which ones you can continue and which ones should be stopped for a specified period of time. You will receive a list of medications to stop taking prior to surgery.

Support Network

You might be surprised how many of your friends and relatives are willing to help out when you ask them. By relying on this support network, you can start reducing your stress levels, keep a more positive outlook, and prep yourself for quick healing all at the same time. Ask for help with tasks you can’t manage during your recovery, like grocery shopping or watching the kids, or just ask for company at home. Supportive people can keep your mood up, encourage you to keep resting when needed and take some of the pressure off of you while you heal. However; keep your visiting groups small and your visiting times short to make sure you get plenty of rest in between.

Skip a Few Workouts

While it’s important to maintain a regular exercise routine in the days and weeks leading up to your surgery, the recovery period is about resting instead. Yes, it’s perfectly acceptable—and encouraged—to skip your workouts for a week or longer, depending on your surgeon’s orders. Anything rigorous or strenuous will definitely be prohibited during this time since increased blood flow and movement can harm your nose. Don’t risk injury and nasal damage during the healing process, or you might end up booking a revision rhinoplasty new jersey to reverse what you’ve done. Follow your doctor’s orders carefully if you’re itching to get back to your marathon training; once you’re healed, it will be worth it.  Long walks and low-impact exercises are usually acceptable forms of physical activity you can participate in until you’re cleared to resume your other activities.

Keep Looking Up

Keeping your head elevated can reduce swelling and redness by encouraging blood to flow away from your nose, letting everything heal faster. Arrange two or three pillows in your designated recovery area at home so you can find an elevation that is both comfortable and effective. As the nose heals, you’ll notice that it becomes gradually more comfortable to lie down flat again. Your surgeon can advise you about when it is safe to transition to a normal sleeping position again.