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Post-Op Instructions and Notes
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Pain can be managed with medication prescribed by the surgeon.
Swelling and bruising will peak after two to three days this can be lessened with the application of cold compresses.
Bleeding is common for the first few days of nose job (rhinoplasty) recovery,
and you will be asked not to blow your nose for approximately one week.
As part of rhinoplasty post operation instructions, patients will also be advised not to bend over with the head below
the heart as this may increase swelling and bleeding.
The nasal packing will be removed after a few days, and the splint (which covers the nose after surgery) and/or stitches will be removed one to two weeks later.
Most of the rhinoplasty side effects, such as swelling and bruising, will disappear after two to three weeks.
Residual swelling can remain for several months to one year after a nose job,
but this is usually not noticeable to anyone but the patient and the surgeon.
Nose injuries can be very painful, but most patients find the discomfort following rhinoplasty
surprisingly easy to cope with. During nose job surgery, the structures that give the nose its shape are
often significantly altered, including the bone and cartilage. It is not surprising, then, that some pain
usually results. Still, most patients find that over-the-counter analgesics are enough to manage discomfort
following a nose job. In more severe cases, the rhinoplasty surgeon may be able to prescribe stronger pain medication.
Any significant pain should subside within 24 hours, with a sensation of stuffiness lingering for up to a few weeks afterwards.
After rhinoplasty, swelling normally occurs after rhinoplasty as the tissues that have been reshaped heal and adjust to their new forms.
The swelling, which will reside mostly around the eyes and the nose itself,
will be very noticeable at first, but will begin to subside around the third day post rhinoplasty and should be largely gone within two weeks.
Some minor swelling will remain for up to six months afterwards, but this will be mostly unnoticeable to anyone other than you and your surgeon.
About a year after the surgery, the final, long-term rhinoplasty results can be evaluated and enjoyed.
Bruising following a nose job is concentrated around the eyes.
Some rhinoplasty patients experience very little noticeable bruising, but others have dark marks above and below the eyes that resemble the classic black eye look.
Bruises are not a sign of any more serious complication and should disappear by the tenth day after the nose job.
If anything seems abnormal, your physician will advise you as to whether any measures besides rest and time are necessary during your rhinoplasty recovery.
Patients will be able to return to work approximately one week after rhinoplasty (nose job) surgery,
but recovery may take longer if post operation instructions are not followed.
Patients should not participate in sports or return to weight lifting for two weeks
after rhinoplasty and should not take part in any activity that may result in a blow to
the nose for about eight weeks. Airline travel is not recommended in the first few weeks following surgery.
A little drainage is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks.
The doctor will probably ask you not to blow your nose for a week or so, while the tissues heal.
The surgeon may use techniques to minimize packing and most of his patients do not need nasal packing.
If you have nasal packing, it will be removed after a few days and you'll feel much more comfortable.
By the end of one or, occasionally, two weeks, all dressings, splints, and stitches should be removed.
Most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days, and able to return to school or sedentary work a few days to a week or so following surgery.
It will be several weeks, however, before you're entirely up to speed.
Your doctor will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities.
They're likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, sexual relations-any activity that increases your blood pressure)
for two to three weeks. Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it sunburned, for eight weeks. Be gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.
You can wear contact lenses as soon as you feel like it, but glasses are another story.
Once the splint is off, they'll have to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for another six to seven weeks, until your nose is completely healed.
Dr. Bermant will schedule frequent follow-up visits in the months after surgery, to check on the progress of your healing.
If you have any unusual symptoms between visits, or any questions about what you can and can't do, don't hesitate to call your doctor.
In the days following surgery, when your face is bruised and swollen, it's easy to forget that you will be looking better.
In fact, many patients feel depressed for a while after plastic surgery-it's quite normal and understandable.
Rest assured that this stage will pass. Day by day, your nose will begin to look better and your spirits will improve.
Within a week or two, you'll no longer look as if you've just had surgery.
Still, healing is a slow and gradual process. Some subtle swelling may be present for months, especially in the tip.
The final results of rhinoplasty may not be apparent for a year or more.
In the meantime, you might experience some unexpected reactions from family and friends.
They may say they don't see a major difference in your nose. Or they may act resentful, especially if you've changed something they view as a family or ethnic trait.
If that happens, try to keep in mind why you decided to have this surgery in the first place. If you've met your goals, then your surgery is a success.
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