Top 5 Tips For Quick Rhinoplasty Recovery

Everyone has a part of their body they’re a little insecure about. But when that insecurity lives right in the centre of your appearance, it can really have a great effect on your self-confidence. Noses come in a variety of shapes and sizes — some are crooked, bumpy, large and others simply don’t compliment the symmetry of the face as well as it should. Rhinoplasty is a great surgical procedure to help correct any imperfections as well as reshape and resize your nose so you can achieve the appearance you want.

The initial recovery period for rhinoplasty is about two weeks. After the first week, the cast and bandaging is removed and patients are welcome to go back to work. While there may still be some lingering swelling or bruising, that will usually subside after two weeks. After that, patients are welcome to slowly rebound back into their regular routine.

While patients see a difference in the appearance of their nose immediately after the procedure and the first few weeks of recovery, the full results of rhinoplasty come through in around 6-12 months time. Like any cosmetic procedure, a quick recovery is based on how well you take care of yourself and follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions. If you’re looking to bounce back quickly after surgery, here are five tips for a quick rhinoplasty recovery:

Avoid Spicy Food

Who doesn’t enjoy a spicy kick to their meal? Many of us do, however, it’s crucial these foods and sauces be avoided during the first couple weeks following your rhinoplasty procedure. Why? Depending on your tolerance, ever notice how your nose starts to run while you’re eating spicy food? This is the exact thing you want to avoid during recovery as it has the potential to severely irritate your nasal passages and cause complications. Spicy food typically includes spices such as chilli powder which can also irritate your sinuses and make swelling worse. To speed up recovery, it’s best to avoid spicy food and sauces entirely or you risk extending it longer than necessary.

Sleep With Your Head Elevated

Keep your head elevated at all times during your recovery to help reduce swelling. This is especially important when sleeping, as it can also help avoid injury while you rest. The last thing you want is bumping or squishing your tender nose while you toss and turn in bed. Instead, sleep in an elevated position by putting pillows on your back to ensure that your body is in an optimal, upright position.

Avoid Strenuous Exercise

It’s important to take things easy after surgery and focus on your recovery instead. That’s why during the first couple of weeks after your surgery, it’s best to avoid any strenuous exercise. Not only does it help avoid any potential injury which could severely impact your results in a negative way, but the increased blood flow caused by exercising could also harm your nose. In the meantime, opt for lighter, low impact workouts like long walks to keep you busy until you’re fully recovered.

Eat Soft Foods

It’s strongly advised that patients eat soft foods to help avoid chewing too much during recovery. While it may sound odd at first, chewing too much can actually contribute to swelling and cause unnecessary bleeding — potentially slowing down the recovery process. For the first week or so, unless your surgeon advises otherwise, be sure to eat soft foods including soups, mash potatoes and applesauce.

Modify Your Daily Routine

There will be a lot of everyday tasks that you’re going to have to modify to help with your recovery. Some things include:

• Avoid wearing clothing that goes over your head – zip-ups and button-up shirts will be your best friend, as you want to avoid any contact with your nose as much as possible. If you don’t have any in your wardrobe, avoid touching your nose while carefully pulling down your shirt over your head.
• Don’t wet your face – during recovery you’ll be wearing a cast over your nose for support and proper healing. It’s important to ensure this doesn’t get wet in the shower as wet bandaging can impact recovery. If you need to shower, do so without making any contact with your face.
• Gently brush your teeth – if you’re an aggressive brusher, you will need to take things down a couple of notches. Since your upper mouth is attached to your nose and sinuses, too much movement can irritate your nose and change its proper placement.
• Don’t forget the sunscreen – you should be applying sunscreen on your face no matter what, but you shouldn’t forget to skip this step during recovery. Your nose will be a lot more sensitive than usual and sunscreen helps add a protective layer.

BONUS: Go to an experienced surgeon

When it comes to having a quick recovery for any cosmetic procedure, it all starts with the surgeon you go with. It’s important to go with a plastic surgeon that is experienced to ensure that the entire procedure is done without a hitch.

Going to an inexperienced surgeon can not only make the recovery time longer but when the procedure is done incorrectly, it can gravely impact results, which may require corrective surgery. So don’t be afraid to be picky, find a surgeon that is experienced and has a portfolio of satisfied patients to prove it.