Recovering from Nose Job

 

You will probably be excited, if not anxious, to see your new nose, but patience is key after rhinoplasty. Complete results are not immediate and can take up to one year to be fully evident.You may be unable to breathe through your nose for the first 24 hours due to swelling or nasal packing (if used). There may be some discomfort, which can typically be controlled with pain medicine. Most people who undergo rhinoplasty can stop pain medication after 48 hours. Some people may have an upset stomach after the surgery; anti-nausea medication may be helpful.You may experience limited bleeding during the first few days. Your surgeon may also tell you to apply a cold compress to your nose to reduce swelling and to elevate your head for the first 24 hours. It is important to avoid any trauma to the nose during the first week after surgery. Blowing your nose is not permitted after rhinoplasty. This can be tough, as you may feel stuffy. Decongestants may help.On about day seven, the cast or splint is removed. Your nose will still be swollen, but after two weeks much of the swelling will have decreased. At this point, all nasal packing, splints and other post-surgical dressings should be removed. A splint may be placed over the outer part of your nose to protect your nose as well as help it hold its new shape during the healing process. The surgeon may also place a softer splint inside your nose to prevent scarring.By one month after surgery, approximately 85 percent of the swelling will have gone down. The remaining swelling may take up to one year to subside. For this reason, you should wait at least one year before undergoing revision rhinoplasty.