Keys to Recovery After Rhinoplasty
- Posted on: Mar 15 2019
There are many different reasons our patients opt to have rhinoplasty. Most are cosmetic, to remove a bump on the bridge or diminish flared nostrils, to lessen a bulbous tip or narrow a flattened middle. Sometimes patients also want to facilitate airflow for better sleeping.
No matter what the reason, all of our nose surgery patients have one thing in common — they want to recover as soon as possible without any complications. Dr. Amirlak knows that a successful recovery is a critical component of your overall rhinoplasty experience. Patients want to see their final results as soon as possible, but patience is a virtue with recovery after nose surgery.
Your initial recovery will take two weeks or more, although you will have some residual swelling for a few weeks, even months. You can’t be disappointed when this swelling occurs, usually in the evening; it will pass with time. Here are some tips for a successful, speedy recovery from this intricate cosmetic procedure with Dr. Amirlak:
- Limit facial muscle movements — This sounds obvious, but during your recovery you need to limit things such as laughing and smiling (only socialize with your more boring friends!). Be careful not to open your mouth too wide. Keep your nose from stretching too much or from being hit. Opt for food that are easy to chew; put off that steak for a few weeks, as it will require more chewing.
- Protect your nose from the sun — After nose surgery with Dr. Amirlak, you nose shouldn’t get any sun. Yes, our Dallas sun is pretty strong and shining brightly more often than not, but you need to completely protect your nose. Unprotected sun exposure can cause permanent discoloration in your nose after rhinoplasty. Apply 30+ spf sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
- Choose the right clothes — This can seem silly, but be smart about your clothing choices: you don’t them to impact your new nose. Avoid tops that must be pulled over your head, such as sweaters and t-shirts. Button-up shirts are your best choice as you recover, as they minimize nose movement and possible bumping while dressing.
- Don’t wear sunglasses or reading glasses — If you need regular glasses tape them above your bridge.
- Keep the exercise light — You may be tempted to get back to hardcore exercise soon as a way to help deal with recovery, but you can’t. You need to opt for lighter workouts that restrict up-and-down movement. You don’t want to raise the blood pressure to your face, if possible. Also, don’t participate in sports that put you at risk of hitting your nose. Lastly, your nose will feel tender during recovery, which makes swimming, diving, and similar exercise a temporary no-no until you’re fully healed.
With patience and attention, gracefully recovering from rhinoplasty is not difficult. Dr. Amirlak will explain the best practices for your recovery, so that you will be pleased with your new nose for the rest of your life. Call our Dallas offices at (214) 974-4948 to schedule a consultation for nose surgery or with any questions you may have.
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