HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER FROM RHINOPLASTY SURGERY?

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves reshaping the nose to improve one’s appearance. This surgery can be done on people of any age and for a variety of reasons. Rhinoplasty may be an excellent choice for someone who has a bump on the bridge of the nose or wants to change its shape. However, the downtime from rhinoplasty surgery varies depending on if you have had other facial surgeries recently, whether your nose was broken before the operation, and even if you’ve been diagnosed with asthma. This post will discuss what to expect after rhinoplasty, so you know what to plan for.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER RHINOPLASTY

After surgery, Dr. Bonaparte will wrap up your nose in bandages, and you’ll be sent home to recover. Suppose the procedure was done at a hospital or outpatient surgical center. In that case, you could typically go home after three hours of recovery (however, this varies by the doctor). Typically, Dr. Bonaparte removes splints 5-6 days post-surgery. Using saline spray for the first week after rhinoplasty will help your healing progress.

THE FIRST FEW WEEKS AFTER RHINOPLASTY

Once the bandages are removed, you will see your new nose despite some swelling, but you can expect some bruising to occur around this time. Bruising typically lasts about two weeks but may last longer depending on if you’re taking any blood thinners or Vitamin K supplements, which can help with clotting of the blood. You should be able to resume exercise at three weeks post-op. However, you should not engage in contact sports like football or rugby until six weeks after rhinoplasty because of the risk of breaking or otherwise injuring your nose.

SIX MONTHS POST-OPERATION

By this time, you should be able to see your final results and breathe normally. However, it can take up to a year or longer for all swelling from the surgery to dissipate. It is recommended that at least one-year post rhinoplasty, you do not undergo elective surgeries on any other parts of your body, because there’s an increased risk of bleeding under anesthesia.

A YEAR POST-RHINOPLASTY

Your nose should be fully healed by this time, and you won’t have as much swelling as before. Rhinoplasty recovery does take a few weeks, but it also varies by individual, so talk with your doctor for specific instructions on what to expect while recovering from rhinoplasty. You will need someone to drive you home after surgery since most patients experience drowsiness due to anesthesia drugs getting into their system, which takes about six hours or less, depending

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

To learn more about rhinoplasty and the recovery process, schedule a consultation with Dr. James P. Bonaparte in Ottawa. Or, call our office or contact us online to schedule your first appointment.