One question that patients are most likely to ask their facial plastic surgeons is “what can I expect after rhinoplasty?”. While the truth is that recovery time and the recovery experience as a whole varies from person to person, it’s also true that there are things you can do to make rhinoplasty recovery process more comfortable and easy-going. Whether your rhinoplasty is in a week, a month or even further into the future, here are a few rhinoplasty recovery tips to help streamline the recovery process.
Get a Friend to Help You
The day of your rhinoplasty surgery is going to pass you by in a blur. The odds are very likely that your surgeon will give you general anesthesia at the start of the procedure, meaning you won’t feel or remember anything that went on during it.
Once the anesthesia wears off and you’ve woken up, you’re likely to still feel a little out of it and sleepy. Many people find that they drift in and out of sleep for the rest of the day.
For that reason, NJ nose job expert Dr. Becker suggests it’s a good idea to recruit the help of a friend or relative. You’ll need someone to drive you home after your surgery and, ideally, stay with you overnight. Depending on your living situation, you might want a companion to stick around for a day or two after that first day, so that you have help and support at home if you need it.
Switch to Button-Front Shirts
You might need to revamp your wardrobe after your surgery, and not for style reasons. As your nose heals, you’ll want to do whatever you can to protect it and avoid bumping it or jostling it.
When you wear T-shirts, sweaters or other pullover-style tops, there’s a risk that you’ll disturb the nose as you get dressed in the morning. For that reason, it’s usually a good idea to change up your clothing choices and stick to button front (or button back) shirts during the recovery period.
The same is true of bras. If you usually wear bras that you pull on over your head, such as bralettes or sports bras, switch to styles that have a clasp on the front or back.
Find a Way to Keep Your Head Up
It’s essential to keep your head up during rhinoplasty recovery, both literally and figuratively. Having a positive outlook on the recovery process will help you heal and feel better sooner.
Physically keeping your nose and head elevated will help to reduce swelling more quickly.
When resting during the day, try sitting in a recliner, so that you’re in a relaxed position, but your head is still lifted. At night, when it’s time to sleep, lie on your back and prop your head up with a couple of pillows to keep it elevated.
Be Gentle With Your Nose
Treat your nose kindly during the first few weeks of rhinoplasty recovery. Being gentle with your nose can mean a few things. It means resisting the urge to blow your nose or put any type of pressure on it. If you do feel stuffed up or like your nose is running, you can dab at the nostrils with tissues.
If you wear glasses, your surgeon might recommend switching to contacts for the first few weeks after sburgery. If you can’t wear contacts, another option is to tape the glasses in place above the nose, so that they aren’t putting any weight or pressure on the healing nose.
When you wash your face after surgery, be extra cautious around the nose. If you still have dressings in place, you’ll want to avoid getting them wet.
If you need any guidance or advice about handling your nose after your surgery, your surgeon can help you out and answer any questions you have.
Allow More Time Than You Think You’ll Need
How much time will you need for your initial rhinoplasty recovery? It all depends. Usually, it’s recommended that people take at least one to two weeks off from work after their surgery.
Often, it’s better to err on the side of taking more time off than you think you’ll end up needing, rather than less time. You don’t want to have to go back to work when you’re not feeling up to it. If you do take two weeks off, then realize you’re ready to go back after just a week, you can talk to your employer about cancelling the extra time off. If the time off wasn’t going to be paid, anyway, you can take advantage of the chance to earn additional income.
*This is a collaborative post
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