Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery that allows you to effectively correct post-traumatic consequences, fully restore tissue structures, correct nasal breathing, and also adjust the shape or size of the nose for aesthetic purposes.
The procedure is a complex type of surgical intervention, since this organ continuously functions, participating in the breathing process, warming, moisturizing and disinfecting the air. Due to its complexity, the recovery period takes more time compared to other types of plastic correction and requires the patient to strictly follow the recommendations and prescriptions of the surgeon.
The speed and features of rehabilitation are individual and depend on many factors: the complexity and volume of surgical intervention, correction methods, the patient’s health condition, the doctor’s qualifications, etc.
Stages of rehabilitation after rhinoplasty
The exact timing of the recovery period in each clinical situation is determined individually, but any rehabilitation can be conditionally divided into several stages.
On the day of rhinoplasty
The correction lasts on average 2-4 hours, it is most often performed under anesthesia, so the first day after the intervention the patient is in the clinic under observation. Drowsiness, weakness, and apathy may occur for several hours, but these symptoms quickly disappear and after 3-4 hours the patient can move independently and eat food. There may be difficulty in nasal breathing due to nasal splints and swelling. Hematomas often appear around the eyes and near the nose. The next day the patient receives all the necessary recommendations and is discharged home.
Stage I - the first 7 days after correction
During this period, the patient's nose is fixed with a splint, which prevents displacement of the structures, and silicone splints are inserted into the nasal passages, which allow nasal breathing to be maintained. All this can cause discomfort in the first days - a feeling of constriction, a foreign body, a feeling of heaviness. Also, the early postoperative period is characterized by pain, severe swelling, and possible hematomas.
At this stage, it is necessary to take the medications recommended by the doctor, rinse your nose, keep complete rest, avoid any physical activity, sleep on your back with the head of the bed elevated, and refrain from wearing makeup.
Stage II - 7-14 days after plastic surgery
The patient’s well-being improves, pain goes away, hematomas resolve, the main swelling begins to subside, but remains on the tip of the nose, back and sides. After about 10 days, the doctor removes the plaster splint, sutures, and removes splints. Restrictions remain on physical activity, hot and cold water procedures, the use of decorative cosmetics and exposure to sunlight.
Stage III - 2 weeks-1 month after rhinoplasty
All signs of surgery disappear on the face, and an improvement in the shape of the nose is observed. By the end of stage 3, physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated to strengthen the new structures of the nose. At 3-4 weeks, the patient can return to the usual rhythm of life and go to work.
Stage IV - 6 months-1 year
During this period, the nose acquires the desired ideal shape, scars become invisible, all tissues are completely restored, and at the same time any restrictions and prohibitions are lifted. After a year, cosmetic manipulations in the nose area are allowed.
What is especially important for the patient to pay attention to during the recovery period?
Particular attention must be paid to nasal hygiene and safety. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- Do not remove or trim the suture threads yourself;
- avoid mechanical impacts on the nasal area;
- treat the operated area with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection;
- When there is discharge, you should not blow your nose; you must clean the nasal passages carefully and using sterile cotton swabs;
- It is permissible to rinse the nose using a solution of sea salt.
If symptoms such as hyperthermia (temperature above 38 degrees), nausea, rash, hyperemia, increased pain at the intervention site, persistent nosebleeds, shortness of breath appear, you should immediately visit a plastic surgeon.
Recommendations from a plastic surgeon to speed up and ease the recovery period
To make the rehabilitation period go faster, as comfortably as possible and without complications, it is advisable to use some of the surgeon’s recommendations, namely:
- after the manipulation, sleep only on your back with the head of the bed raised - this will increase the outflow of fluid from the head and the swelling will be less pronounced;
- use cold compresses to reduce swelling - the compress is placed on the area next to the nose, and not on the organ itself;
- after removing the splint, massage is allowed, aimed at activating the facial lymph nodes, which also reduces swelling, improves blood supply and regeneration (active actions are unacceptable, massage consists of applying light pressure with your fingers according to the principle: "finger touch" - "light pressure for 30 seconds" -"letting go");
- For faster resorption of hematomas, special ointments recommended by the doctor are allowed to be applied to them.
Physiotherapy procedures have also proven themselves well; the patient is prescribed microcurrents, ultrasound therapy, phonophoresis, and mesotherapy. All manipulations are carried out after removing the bandage; the specific type of procedure and its frequency are determined by the doctor, taking into account the patient’s condition.
Postoperative appointments with a plastic surgeon
The patient must visit a plastic surgeon for follow-up at certain times:
- 7 days after manipulation;
- 1 month after the intervention;
- 2 months later;
- in 3 months;
- in six months;
- in a year.
After about 7-10 days, the doctor will remove the plaster splint. If the condition worsens or complications develop, an emergency visit to the surgeon is necessary.
Use of medications
The use of any local and systemic medications should be carried out only as prescribed by the plastic surgeon. If necessary, analgesics may be recommended to relieve pain, diuretics to reduce swelling, drugs to improve microcirculation, and vitamin therapy in the autumn and winter postoperative period. A sea salt solution is prescribed to rinse the nose; ointments are sometimes recommended to optimize blood flow and lymphatic drainage.
Nutrition and diet
The postoperative period involves some dietary restrictions. An important condition for correct and rapid regeneration is facial rest, therefore it is recommended to minimize the activity of the masticatory muscles.
On the day of plastic surgery, you should adhere to a light diet of liquid dishes, the next day regular food intake is allowed, but for 2 weeks you must avoid rough and hard foods that require chewing force, the food itself should be at a comfortable temperature. For a month after plastic surgery, it is recommended to limit the consumption of salty, sweet, smoked foods - foods that retain fluid in the body and, as a result, increase swelling. To improve metabolic processes, it is advisable to adhere to fractional balanced meals - 5-6 times a day.
Restrictions
Rhinoplasty does not limit the patient’s social life, but during the recovery period it is recommended to be more careful about your health and focus on personal feelings: if any actions are accompanied by discomfort, then you should avoid performing them. It is also advisable during rehabilitation to refuse:
- active nose blowing - it is only permissible to carefully clean the nasal passages;
- sleeping on your stomach and side - it is optimal to rest in a position on your back;
- wearing any glasses for at least 2 months, including corrective glasses;
- lifting weights and physical activity;
- visiting a solarium, bathhouse, sauna;
- showering in extreme temperatures.
Various experiments with traditional medicine are strictly prohibited, especially for "solutions" made from food, hot compresses made from salt, etc. It is also important to remember that for the first two weeks you should not touch your nose, so you should take care of a comfortable wardrobe, it is better to use clothes with a zipperor buttons.
Visible result
The first visible result can be assessed approximately a month after the correction, when postoperative manifestations disappear. The nose takes on a clearer shape after 6-8 months, with the final result in a year. With non-surgical rhinoplasty, the final result is visible a few hours after the procedure.
FAQ
When can you go to the solarium after surgery?
Ultraviolet irradiation and the thermal effect dilate blood vessels and capillaries, which can provoke bleeding, increase swelling and slow down the regeneration of soft tissues. You can visit the solarium no earlier than 6 weeks after rhinoplasty, when the hematomas have completely resolved and the edema syndrome has passed.
When can you exercise after rhinoplasty?
Sports exercises provoke an increase in heart rate and increased blood circulation, especially a rush of blood to the face, hence all activities must be postponed for 2-3 months, and a return to professional sports - for at least six months.
When can you have sex after rhinoplasty?
Sex is quite a significant physical activity that should be avoided in the first 2-3 weeks after correction, otherwise bleeding, increased swelling is possible, and any slightest touch to the nose can deform the organ and affect the final result.
When can you wash after surgery?
Taking a shower is allowed 3-5 days after correction, only the water should be warm. It is important to avoid getting the plaster cast wet; it must remain dry, since the first change is possible at least 5 days after application.
When can you drink alcohol after surgery?
Ethyl alcohol, contained in all alcoholic beverages without exception, slows down tissue regeneration and negatively affects blood vessels and the heart, so it is extremely important to give up alcoholic beverages for at least a month after surgery.
How long does swelling last after surgery?
Tissue swelling is a standard phenomenon after rhinoplasty. Swelling reaches its maximum peak approximately 3 days after correction, when swelling is noticeable on the nose, eyelids, cheeks and, in some cases, on the chin, then gradually begins to subside. Noticeable manifestations resolve within 1-3 weeks. Residual compaction, invisible to others, disappears after 6-8 months.
How long after surgery can I go to the bathhouse?
For 2 months after rhinoplasty, you should not expose your body to strong heat or sudden temperature changes. Accordingly, for this period you should avoid visiting baths, sunbathing (including solariums) and contrast showers.
Conclusion
Rhinoplasty is a rather complex plastic surgery performed not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for therapeutic purposes. The level of complexity is determined by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the organ and its continuous functioning. The duration of rehabilitation after plastic surgery is variable and depends on the type of surgical intervention, the complexity and scope of correction, and the individual characteristics of the patient. To ensure that the recovery period is as comfortable and quick as possible, that various complications do not develop, and that the final result corresponds to your wishes, it is extremely important to take the plastic surgeon’s recommendations responsibly in the postoperative period and strictly follow all his instructions.