The ultimate guide on rhinoplasty recovery
By Beverly hills Rhinoplasty surgeon Dr. Kotler
Rhinoplasty Recovery Time: the road to a full recovery
Patients like to know the details of an entire recovery process. What does rhinoplasty look and feel like post op after a few days, a few weeks, months, and even years? With over 40 years experience on the job as a rhinoplasty surgeon I can expand on all facets of the recovery process so that you can feel comfortable and know exactly what to expect through each phase of the recovery timeline.
Patients can go home right after rhinoplasty to begin their recovery. The bruising will diminish every day. The swelling will continue to abate. Remember, the swelling at the bridge and the upper parts of the nose will go down quicker because the skin is thinner. The nasal tip swelling will take a little longer because as the swelling moves from the bridge down to the tip, it then has to dissipate from there, but it always goes away. There are other factors, including the thickness of the skin and how much work had to be done to narrow the tip of the nose.
Rhinoplasty swelling is common and its resolution is a function of complexity. If people have had many broken noses and had a deviated septum and the whole nose has to be basically disassembled and rebuilt, of course, there is going to be a little more swelling and bruising. But, again, it goes away. It does not take 3 or 4 weeks. It is always a matter of 7 to 10 days typically. Every day you look better. In my own rhinoplasty experience, within 9 to 10 days after surgery the appearance of my nose was very improved but not as good as it was a week or 10 days later. The swelling continues to go down.
The basic healing process of rhinoplasty is just like any other operation of the body. It is really a matter of 3 months, 100 days, but it is not that you do not look good at 3 weeks or 4 weeks. You look excellent, but the nose keeps getting better and better, meaning more refinement, more finesse, and more in accord with the predicted results. Remember that nature does best when there is no manipulation, when there is no massaging, and when there is no putting various tapes and things on the nose. Nature likes to be left at rest to encourage the best healing.
So, How long does a nose job take to heal?
In short, the typical rhinoplasty recovery time is under 10 days. There are many other factors to consider, such as rhinoplasty type; procedures like liquid rhinoplasty for example has zero recovery time, common in revision rhinoplasty. Typically, there will be a splint on the outside of your nose to protect it for 5 days or so and in 5 more days the nose has healed so well and you can return to all normal activities, including your exercise program. The only limitation is no contact sports, such as soccer or rugby where injury to the nose could be very unpleasant. For the nose to be rock-hard, solid, and all the tissue welded together takes 6 weeks. So, how long does it take to recover from rhinoplasty surgery? The average recovery period is typically 7 to 10 days, but it always depends on the individual.
Some rhinoplasties are accompanied by correction of a deviated septum to improve breathing or reduce the turbinates to also improve breathing and improve symptoms of allergy. That means you have had two operations; the external rhinoplasty and the internal breathing operation; so, there is going to tend to be a bit more swelling and bruising, but generally 10 days is, again, the landmark for looking good and being able to go back out into the world and resume your normal activities.
There is very little chance of major problems after one hits that 10-day mark. Going out in public, even if there is a little bruising, is still feasible using a little bit of makeup.
Looking normal is a process that takes place every day. The swelling continues to go down. Generally, it is maximum on the second day. How well one cares for themselves after the rhinoplasty, including taking the medications that are provided such as arnica and icing over the eyes and cheeks immediately after surgery, all contribute to the rapidity of the recovery as evidenced by less swelling and bruising.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty Recovery Tips
How To Recover From Rhinoplasty Faster (Post Rhinoplasty Care)
From the get-go, immediately after your rhinoplasty, in the recovery room, ice application is of great help in preventing or at least reducing swelling and bruising. We recommend as much icing as possible in the first 48 hours. The early-on care of your nose after rhinoplasty is the key to a faster rhinoplasty recovery time.
The first night, sleeping slightly upright, two to three pillows, helps drain any blood in from the nose. This promotes less swelling and bruising.
After surgery, the top Rhinoplasty surgeons provide recovery tips to ease recovery and accelerate healing.
Rhinoplasty Tips Week 1 Post Op
Nose Job Aftercare
How To Recover From Rhinoplasty Faster (Post Rhinoplasty Care)
Tips to Reduce Swelling After Rhinoplasty
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Exercise:
One of the most commom questions: “When can I workout after rhinoplasty?” After rhinoplasty, light walking is OK within the first two weeks to control heart rate and movement of head and the nose. No strenuous exercise is very important during recovery. You can begin to workout by week three, half your normal pace. By week four, you should feel or almost feel completely recovered. However, lifting weights above the head should still be avoided at this point, as well as full paced running. After five to six weeks, your entire normal workout activity can typically be back at normal pace, including running and lifting weights. If you’re not sure about an activity, consult with a surgeon on the status of your recovery.
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Don’t Blow Your Nose:
For the first 10 days, you should not blow your nose. If you do, the pressure from trying to clear the nose may cause some bleeding and additional swelling. More bleeding will lead to more bruising and then the clock starts again for the reduction of the bruising.
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Clean the Outside of Your Nose:
It is proper to continue to cleanse around the nostrils with medications that are provided, including ointment. We prefer the internal or closed rhinoplasty approach and since there is no external incision there is not much to do except ointment inside the nostrils where the dissolvable stitches are.
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Should I Avoid Eating Food After Rhinoplasty:
This is a common misconception about rhinoplasty. There are no serious restrictions regarding foods to avoid after rhinoplasty. While there are great food options that naturally speed up recovery and may help reduce swelling, generally no rules are required regarding what not to eat after rhinoplasty.
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What Can You Eat or Ingest to Speed Up Healing:
There are benefits in knowing what to eat after rhinoplasty. Certain foods are helpful to reduce the swelling in that initial healing phase. There are healing properties in fresh papaya and fresh pineapple because they are rich in papain (good pick-up), an enzyme that helps the body dispose of bruising by enhancing the body’s dissolution of bruising. Great help medically and delightful in smoothies also. There are very few things that would cause a problem with respect to diet. Alcohol should be limited and salty foods should be limited because they are notorious for causing swelling.
Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline
Rhinoplasty After One Week
The outside plastic protector is in place for anywhere from 4 to 6 days. Once that comes off, one can already see the changes that have been made. If you had a bump, it’s gone. The profile already is a big improvement. The tip is more refined and so you have a very good idea of the outcome. Each day the swelling recedes and if bruising present, it lightens in color and evolves from purple to green to yellow. This is good news, because both green and yellow are easier to conceal cosmetically.
What To Expect Two Weeks after Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty three Weeks Post Op
The nose has gotten better. The swelling is going down. The bridge swelling has mostly disappeared and a little bit of swelling on both cheeks and the side of the nose has continued to diminish.
Rhinoplasty Results After one Month (4 Weeks)
Two Months After Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty three Months post-op
At 3 months, 85% to 90% of the refinement has taken place. Remember that in rhinoplasty, it involves changing the shape of the nose by altering the bony and cartilaginous structure, so it is required that the skin that has been raised continue to shrink down to the new dimensions. Typically results at 3 months are considered very close to the end result, although at 6 months it will look even better and even more at a year.
Rhinoplasty six Months Post-op
We like to see our patients at the 6-month mark and at the 1-year mark and we will compare their appearance with the preoperative photographs which is always of great interest to the patient, particularly because by that 6-month mark they often forgot exactly what their nose looked like before.
One Year After Rhinoplasty
While by 3-6 months the rhinoplasty “healing” is considered complete, there is even further maturation and improvement up to the one-year mark. Typically the tip of the nose becomes even more refined until 12 months after surgery. Likewise, the width further narrows as the very last vestiges of swelling under the skin recedes. Just like fine wine, time makes the nose even better.
At the one-year mark and milestones after, visits are offered at these stages on an as-needed basis, and most patients find them unnecessary. Over this time, final results become apparent, and you will be able to truly enjoy your rhinoplasty – by forgetting you ever had it. Your nose will seem like it has always been a part of your face, and looking back on your old nose in photos will seem foreign.
Rhinoplasty Recoveries
VIDEO Timeline OF RHINOPLASTY RECOVERY
Rhinoplasty Recovery FAQ
Things to Buy for Rhinoplasty Recovery
Is there anything I can purchase to help heal post rhinoplasty?
Our practice provides all of the supplies and non-prescription medications that should be used to speed the recovery. This includes a 10-day supply of Arnica, which patients start taking just before surgery day. We provide antibiotic ointment for use inside the nose. Also, saltwater or saline spray mentioned above is important to use to keep the nose refreshed and speed the healing, particularly in the first several weeks, which is very refreshing and can help reverse the dryness of the nasal lining due to the procedure.
Sleeping on Your Side After Rhinoplasty
Can I sleep on my side after rhinoplasty?
Signs of Infection After Rhinoplasty
How can I tell if I have an infection?
Precautions After Rhinoplasty
Kissing & Sex After Rhinoplasty
When can I kiss my partner or have sex after getting a nose job?
What are the biggest precautions after rhinoplasty?
The main precaution after rhinoplasty is to avoid any injury to your nose. The second precaution, of course, is to avoid those things that would interfere with blood clotting. For example, we do not recommend going on large doses of aspirin or even non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Advil or Motrin because they could interfere with the proper healing and kick up the possibility of some bleeding. Only in the first 10 days is one at risk for that particular situation.
Stay away from situations where your nose could be bumped. If you are going to be flying on an airplane, do not plan on lifting your luggage overhead and stay away from people who are lifting their luggage over your seat. You do not want anybody’s luggage to bump your nose.
Scarring After Rhinoplasty
Will I have scars after rhinoplasty?
Depending on the surgical procedure (open vs closed rhinoplasty), there might be scarring. The majority of Dr. Kotler’s procedures are performed using the closed technique. In closed rhinoplasty, the incision is internal and there is no visible scarring.
Drinking After Rhinoplasty
Is it ok to drink after rhinoplasty?
A moderate amount of alcohol meaning 1 or 2 drinks a day is certainly tolerable. Any greater volume of that runs the chance of some instability. Drunkenness is a risk because of the chance of a fall and contact damage to your nose.
Smoking After Rhinoplasty
How long until I can smoke again?
Smoking is one of the biggest no-no’s because it slows healing. Dryness is the enemy of the nose and so is heat, so it is a double loss here. We do not recommend it and most people are wise enough to know that they would tamper with rapid healing by smoking. It is a good time to consider stopping smoking since for the first 10 days if you can get through that, you will be on the road to ridding yourself of an unhealthy habit.
Wearing Glasses After Rhinoplasty
Is it ok to wear glasses or sunglasses after rhinoplasty?
If the nasal bones have been repositioned, as in the case of 90% of rhinoplasties, glasses should not be worn for typically 5 weeks or so. However, patients are instructed on how to suspend them with small pieces of clear transparent tape such that it would be very hard to see that the glasses are suspended just above the bridge so there is no pressure. Of course, those who wear contact lenses may put them in the day after surgery.
Nose Growth After Rhinoplasty
Will your nose grow after rhinoplasty?
The nose will not grow after rhinoplasty. One might think their nose looks bigger after rhinoplasty for the first 7 to 10 days because it is a little swollen but the truth is, it does not grow. As a matter of fact, as people get older and the noses tend to droop either because of an overactive depressor muscle pulling the tip down or just due to the effect of gravity, and there is less chance of that if you have had a rhinoplasty because the internal scar tissue keeps the nose tight.
Splint Removal After Rhinoplasty
How long until I can remove the splint?
The external plastic splint or protection is typically removed anywhere from 4 to 6 days. It does not hurt to remove it. It is gently slid off the skin and, at that point, there are no external signs that you had any surgery, particularly if you had the closed rhinoplasty approach which demonstrates no external incisions.
Scratching Your Nose After Rhinoplasty
Can I scratch my nose after rhinoplasty?
Sometimes there is a little bit of itching. Be gentle. Use a Q-Tip. Also remember the skin can get a little oily after surgery so we recommend using witch hazel, as well as an antibacterial hand soap. There is a small chance of getting a little outbreak of acne which can occur after rhinoplasty because there can be trapping of oil on the skin due to swelling. If you follow the typical post-op instructions, that will not be a problem.
Bending Over After Rhinoplasty
Why can’t I bend over after rhinoplasty?
In the first 10 days, we do not recommend it because the veins will become filled with blood and are more likely to leak. Rather than bending over, just bend the knees. Be careful if you are lifting children also because remember that the young infants will tend to buck their heads back and if they do you will not be a happy parent.
Breathing After Rhinoplasty
Does a nose job affect your breathing?
If you have just had a rhinoplasty and have not had the septoplasty and turbinate resection you should be able to breathe quite well. In our practice, of course, we have the Kotler nasal airway in place, which is guaranteed to be able to breathe whether there is packing in your nose or not. Remember, today’s contemporary packing materials both dissolve and also do not stick. When the non-absorbable packing is removed, liquid anesthetic is put into the nose.
The purpose of packing is to speed healing, reduce the chance of infection, and also minimize the chance of any bleeding, so packing is very important. However, if the nose were packed without having the little plastic air tubes in place, which do not hurt and sit in an un-operated area, it would not be quite as pleasant. The combination of packing with the airway, and those can be in place for up to 4 to 5 days, gives you the best prospect for having a satisfactory postoperative experience.
When can you breathe after rhinoplasty?
With a specialized rhinoplasty surgeon, breathe immediately after rhinoplasty or nasal surgery. As one of the most specialized rhinoplasty surgeons in the U.S, Dr. Kotler is also an inventor. The Reltok Clear-Flo™ Nasal Airway System. was created to advance post-operative care for rhinoplasty for breathing and comfort. Speak with your surgeon about a homecare kit to learn how you can breathe clearly after nose surgery.
Showering After Rhinoplasty
Can I shower after rhinoplasty?
One can shower even the day after, as long as the splint is protected from the direct spray of the water. We recommend taping some saran wrap to your forehead and therefore providing a nice little cover. The splints are well adhesed to the skin so there is not much chance they will separate even if a little water gets in there. Certainly, shower and shampoo and be comfortable.
Pain After Rhinoplasty
Is rhinoplasty recovery painful?
Most patients tell us, in our detailed surveys, that their nose pain after rhinoplasty was less than they feared. And even if there is significant pain, of all of the things that doctors do, pain control is the easiest. There are a variety of medications that can be used. Many people are happy using just extra strength Tylenol or even plain Tylenol – just no aspirin, please. However, it is wise to have something stronger on hand and our practice typically provides Tylenol with Codeine as opposed to an opioid because we think that is a better medication and you are only going to use it for a couple of days.
Patients are concerned about nose pain after rhinoplasty in the tip of the nose because it tends to be the most sensitive area. On the contrary, the tip of the nose tends to actually be a little numb and is less painful than the bridge, but it is not great pain.
I can tell you from my experience as a rhinoplasty patient, I never even took a pain pill. I was waiting for the big pain to “show up” and it never did. I got up the next day and felt fine and never took a pain pill. However, everyone is different and some people have a higher or lower tolerance to pain and that needs to be taken into account. We do not want you to suffer because the physician’s job is to prevent suffering. Equally important is that if you have pain the blood pressure goes up. If the blood pressure goes up, there is a greater chance of bleeding within that first 7 to 10 day critical postoperative period.
Skin Care After Rhinoplasty
Dry Skin After Rhinoplasty
How can I prevent dry nose after rhinoplasty?
After rhinoplasty, not uncommonly, the usual nasal mucus glands tend to reduce their production. This results in dryness that while not a threat to the result nor likely to cause other problems, is a bit of a nuisance. Nasal surgeons anticipating this temporary condition provide moisturizing solutions to be used after surgery. There are many brands and varieties, e.g. Neil Med, Pretz. The common ingredient is salt water; the same solution used for intravenous solutions. These products, sprayed into the nasal passages will minimize dryness, soften some internal crusts and hasten healing. Since the inside of the nostrils may also be a bit dry, bland ointments are recommended.
I have dry skin. How should I take care of my nose after rhinoplasty?
For those patients with naturally dry skin, some minor skin care is recommended. The skin will be a bit flaky and since patients are rightly reluctant to be vigorous about cleansing the skin of the recently operated nose, there can be a build-up of the surface skin’s unremoved shed layer. The remedy is simple, gentle washing and then application of a light moisturizer. The dryness and flakiness will gradually disappear as the patient becomes more comfortable with skin washing. The moisturizer is safe, practical and is used as needed.
Acne After Rhinoplasty
Why Do I Have Acne After My Rhinoplasty?
The patient whose skin tends to be oily will have different issues than a patient with dry skin. The oily skin combines with the skin that normally flakes off to form a film that can clog pores and even lead to a skin condition known as acneiform dermatitis. Little red bumps, a la acne develop as some bacteria invade the very surface and thrive in the oily-dead skin environment.
This is not a serious condition and does not threaten the nose. However, it should be dealt with so that the appearance is more normal for the healing stage. Further, if left untreated, the condition can advance to the more invasive acne. Removal of the oil and skin using a variety of astringents such as Witch Hazel is very helpful. Also, the use of an antibacterial soap will eradicate the bacteria and hasten the resolution.
Oily Skin After Rhinoplasty
How do I get rid of oily skin after rhinoplasty?
For patients with often oily skin, after the dressings come off a few days post rhinoplasty, skin is oilier. Why does oily skin happen post-nose surgery? Shiny nose after a rhinoplasty is common and happens as a protective response from the skin. To treat oily skin or avoid oily skin during recovery time, wash your face more often with an antibacterial hand soap for hands, face, and nose. The use of witch hazel and toner will help to remove oil off the skin so you can prevent acne outbreaks. Rest assured, shiny noses are temporary and will go away as you heal.
Final Remarks from Dr. Kotler
Nose Job Recovery Advice from a Rhinoplasty Surgeon
Rhinoplasty recovery is common sense, more than anything. We will guide you. We provide all of the information, written material, and instructions, and supply all the medications, both prescription and non-prescription. This is all geared to having the most rapid and complication-free recovery. A little common sense goes a long way and most people know that the postoperative period is important so there will be no slowing of the healing, so there will be no chance of increased bruising or swelling, and therefore are motivated to do the right thing to have a successful outcome as opposed to an unpleasant experience.
