AEDIT
Try on Rhinoplasty Solutions
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The Skinny
Nose jobs. We’ve all heard of them and know a friend or celebrity who has had one, but what does this classic plastic surgery procedure actually entail? Let’s run through some quick basics. A nose job, or rhinoplasty, is a procedure performed by a board certified plastic surgeon to alter the size, shape, and angle of the nose. When combined with a septoplasty, certain rhinoplasties can also be used to correct breathing issues, though those are a bit more specialized than what we’ll cover here.
A rhinoplasty can be performed open (meaning significant incisions and exposure of underlying tissues) or closed (smaller incisions and no exposing of the nasal structures). Obviously, larger incisions mean more dramatic results but also longer recovery times. Any surgical procedure (open or closed) will have some level of downtime and side effects, but candidates electing for open rhinoplasty procedures should expect to be recovering longer than those pursuing closed surgeries. Generally speaking, closed rhinoplasty surgery candidates can expect a few weeks of recovery, while open rhinoplasty patients can expect a few months.
The Specifics
What to Expect During Rhinoplasty Recovery
So, what’s it actually like to create your dream nasal aesthetic? Open or closed, all candidates can expect pain, swelling, and bruising following this cosmetic surgery. While actual recovery time will vary depending on how invasive your procedure is and how your body naturally heals, one to two weeks is a safe amount of time to assume you’re going to feel significantly uncomfortable and not be looking your best.Another factor to consider is how you recover from general anesthesia, if that is a component of your procedure. Many people feel nausea, drowsiness, and slightly disoriented in the hours following anesthesia. These side effects typically resolve quickly, as the sedating medications wear off. Even so, it is a part of the immediate post-surgical recovery.
The Ultimate Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline
Ok, let’s get into the nitty gritty of rhinoplasty recovery. We’ll start with how to utilize your pre-op time to possibly minimize the intensity of your post-op experience and then we’ll look at what you can expect from the first few days, weeks, months, and, yes, even years. Remember, there will be timing differences between closed and open procedures, and we’ll note this as we move along the timeline.
It should also be noted that your surgeon should provide comprehensive pre- and post-op instructions, and you should always defer to the advice of your medical team. This is simply meant to serve as a guide.
Tips to Improve Your Rhinoplasty Recovery
Now that you know more about the recovery timeline associated with a facial plastic nose surgery, we’ve got some tips to help you progress along your healing journey as efficiently and effortlessly as possible. Like we mentioned, every individual body heals at its own pace, but there are definitely some universal truths that augment healing.
1. Be Mindful & Be Patient
We’re not being deliberately vague here. Your body will let you know what it needs. If you feel like taking it slow one day, do it! If you suddenly have the desire to get some fresh air, go for it (albeit you are medically cleared for it)! The mind-body connection exists and the more you respect it the easier your recovery will be. Patience rules the day, so be kind to your body and slowly ease yourself back into your routine without forcing things like your return to work or working out.
2. Eat well, sleep well, & stay hydrated
This is just good life advice, but, especially during times of increased stress on the body (think: following a major plastic surgery), the more you nourish yourself and properly rest the better. Some of the best repair hormones only get cycled through your blood while you sleep, so be like a pro athlete during the months following your surgery and get those eight hours. Your nose (and your entire being) will thank you for it.
Additionally, eating a balanced diet free from processed foods in combination with plenty of water and taking it easy on caffeine and alcohol will naturally reduce inflammation and help lessen swelling more quickly (check out our guide to what to eat before and after cosmetic procedures). Oh, and don’t smoke. Our advice is to never smoke, but it’s particularly vital to lay off after a major surgery.
3. Elevate & Ice
Cold compresses and keeping your head up (literally and metaphorically) will lessen blood flow to the area and reduce the amount of fluid accumulation in and around your nose. While blood does bring all the good nutrients and healing cells, it can also leave large deposits of infection-fighting cells and other materials you don’t really need hanging around. This is why icing for periods of time (i.e. not continuously) creates the best balance of blood flow.
4. Moderate Your Activities
This probably doesn’t need to be said, but, just in case, three weeks after your rhinoplasty is not the time to begin your CrossFit training regimen. Vigorous exercise makes blood pressure increase. Increased blood pressure means increased swelling. Intense exercise also naturally increases the stress hormone cortisol. While it’s great in moderation when you're healthy, it’s not ideal in the months following a major surgery.
Other activities to avoid or limit: blowing your nose, sun bathing, and wearing glasses for long periods of time.
Rhinoplasty Side Effects & Complications
So now that we’ve thoroughly covered the days and weeks following a rhinoplasty procedure, let’s review what you can definitely expect versus what may or may not occur. Every rhinoplasty patient should expect at least one to two weeks of bruising and at least four to six weeks of noticeable swelling. Nasal congestion, achiness, nasal drainage (both down the back of the throat and out the nostrils), and headaches are all common side effects that will resolve within a week or two and can be mitigated with medications.While rare, more serious complications are possible. Infections of the nasal tissues are a possible complication of rhinoplasty and can be treated with antibiotics. Permanent numbness from nerve damage, intractable pain, asymmetry, septal perforation, and scarring are more significant complications that may require further surgical revision or be unable to be fixed.
