Rhinoplasty
Recovering from Rhinoplasty Surgery in New York
What happens immediately after the surgery?
After the surgery you will notice that you will be propped up in bed with a couple of pillows in order to elevate your head and thus reduce the swelling around your nose. You will also notice that it will be difficult to breath through your nose.
The bridge of the nose is usually protected after the operation by a plastic splint, which is worn usually for about 7-10 days. During this time you should avoid blowing your nose, stooping, and any vigorous activity for next three weeks. After your discharge from the hospital it is possible that you may experience a nosebleed. In the vast majority of times this bleeding ceases of its own accord following delicate application of pressure (see postoperative instructions). However, rarely it is necessary for medical intervention to stop difficult bleeding.
What kind of after effects should I expect?
As the nasal bones are usually broken and reset, you should expect to have "black eyes" and some swelling of the face. This usually settles by 2-3 weeks although as soon as the splint is removed you may, in fact, apply light make up to mask this. It is very important to realize that even once the splint is removed from the bridge of the nose there will almost certainly be a significant degree of swelling still present. Therefore the shape of the nose at this stage is not the final one. This obvious swelling will rapidly decrease in the ensuing 3-4 weeks.
However, it is important to remember that even after this time, the shape of the nose is still not the final one. This is partly because of scar tissue which will form underneath the skin of the nose, as a result of the surgery, and which will have a subtle volume effect on the final shape. These internal scars gradually change their shape (called scar maturation) and resolve in time. It is important that the tip of the nose in particular is regularly massaged in order to prevent the internal structures from becoming fixed by this scar development, in an undesirable position. You will be instructed in this. The process of scar maturation will take up to one year, sometimes longer, to complete and therefore only after this time is the final ultimate shape of your new nose apparent. As a simple guide in assessing the progress of your nose, you should gently squeeze the tip of a normal nose, and then your own to compare the firmness. The firmer it is, the more time is required for it to settle. Bear in mind of course, that it is possible for an unacceptable result to occur because of the sometimes-unknown effects of healing and settling.
During the initial weeks, and sometimes months, the nose tip usually feels numb. This invariably recovers as the nerve supply to the skin regenerates.
Is it painful?
Remarkably enough, pain after this operation is not usually a problem and is easily relieved by an injection in the first few hours and a mild analgesic such as paracetamol as necessary afterwards.
What are the scars like?
In most instances, all the incisions for a rhinoplasty, are placed within the nostrils and therefore cannot be seen. However as mentioned already (see Operation), in some instances external scars may be needed to reduce the nostril size or to perform more complex nasal tip work. Although these scars are usually red and lumpy for the first few weeks, they do tend to settle in time. However, you must bear in mind that it is impossible to predict the final appearance of any scar.
How long before I get back to normal?
Most patients like to stay out of the public eye while their plaster cast is on. Once this is removed however, you will gradually start to resume your daily activities. This will largely depend on the amount of bruising and swelling you will experience. Most bruising has dissipated by about 2 weeks, although there may be some slight residual bruising present. This can usually be masked quite easily with makeup. Most people are back to work by about 10 days. Although slight swelling may still be present at this time, it is not usually noticeable to the majority of people. By 3-4 weeks most people are back to their normal routine and are enjoying their new nose. You will however need to avoid any contact sports for 3 months, while the nasal bones heal completely.