If you are thinking about having a nose job, or rhinoplasty, knowing what to expect during the recovery process is an important tidbit of information to consider when making your decision. In this article, we will go over the typical rhinoplasty recovery timeline. By the time you are done reading, you will feel more confident in your decision to go through with this procedure or not. Generally speaking, recovery from rhinoplasty is not as bad as most people would expect.
The First 24 Hours After Rhinoplasty
Surprisingly, there is not a lot of pain associated with the first 24 hours after rhinoplasty. Most patients will not even need prescription pain medication. However, headaches are to be expected and an over-the-counter pain reliever will suffice. It is important to note that aspirin should not be taken during this time as it can cause nosebleeds. Although there is little pain involved, the first 24 hours after rhinoplasty can be very uncomfortable. Patients can expect extreme congestion symptoms due to the internal swelling of the nose. A light sleep aid may be used to help patients sleep during this time. It is important to avoid blowing the nose and to take it easy and get plenty of rest.
The First Week After Rhinoplasty
During the first week, congestion symptoms continue, but start to get better. Patients should continue to avoid blowing the nose. At the end of the first week, the nose splint is removed but due to swelling, patients will not be able to see their final results yet. Typically, by the end of the first week patients feel confident enough to resume social activities and return to work. However, patients should continue to take it easy and avoid strenuous activity and exercise.
6-8 Weeks After Rhinoplasty
By this time, restriction on activities is removed and even contact sports are permitted. The swelling will have gone down enough for patients to get an idea of what their final result will look like.
Long Term Expectations from Rhinoplasty
It is not until a full year after rhinoplasty that swelling of the nose completely subsides. After a year, patients finally get to see what their new nose truly looks like. Nowadays, surgeons are more careful to avoid removing too much tissue in order to preserve the nose’s supportive structure. For this reason, drooping or collapse of the nose is unlikely to occur and the results should last a lifetime.
Recovering from rhinoplasty is a long process, but it is not too bad, especially when you know what to expect. It is a small price to pay to have the nose that you always wanted!