After rhinoplasty surgery, initial recovery can take a few weeks. During this time, your new nose is extremely delicate and what you do and don’t do during recovery can make all the difference. Your surgeon will send you home with detailed instructions on how to care for your surgical site, medications you must take and when to attend follow-up appointments.
However, knowing what to expect after rhinoplasty and avoiding the three big don’ts can greatly improve your nose job recovery.
1. Use Caution to Avoid Germs and Do Not Blow Your Nose
Allergies, colds and the flu can be annoying any time of year, but after rhinoplasty, they can cause real harm to your nose. Having to blow your nose can cause damage and bleeding, as well as disrupt your healing. Doing all you can to avoid germs or allergens after your rhinoplasty is essential. Stay away from people that are sick, wash your hands and Lysol your home and workspace. While you can’t avoid sneezing, sneeze with your mouth open to prevent pressure in your nose.
Blowing your nose after rhinoplasty can cause damage and impair your healing.
2. Wearing Glasses Can Increase Bruising and Cause Complications
If you wear glasses every day, you need to talk with your eye doctor about temporary contacts before your rhinoplasty procedure. During nose job recovery, the cartilage and tissue are often softer than normal. Because glasses rest on the bridge of the nose, regular wear can cause indentations and disrupt the healing process. These indentations can become permanent, requiring additional surgery to correct. Wearing contacts eliminates this risk and allows your nose to heal.
3. Avoid Strenuous Activity, Exercise and Impact to the Nose
While a daily walk during recovery is good, avoiding strenuous activity like heavy lifting and high-impact exercise is critical. These activities can increase blood flow to the face, boosting swelling and putting you at risk of bleeding. In addition, after rhinoplasty, the nose is very fragile, and bones need to set during the healing process. Vigorous movement can cause damage, shifting and breakage. Another concern with strenuous activity is sweat. Sweat from the face can negatively impact the healing process and extend your rhinoplasty recovery period.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your nose, contact Dr. Davis today for more information about rhinoplasty and how it can help give you the nose you desire.
