Rhinoplasty, or a “nose job” or nose reshaping surgery, involves the reconstruction and reshaping of the bones and cartilage that make up the bridge and sides of the nose. Because this surgery involves structural tissues, your nose will be especially delicate during the first eight weeks following surgery. Closely following your surgeon’s recommendations during your rhinoplasty recovery period will help ensure you get the desired results from this procedure.
Our medical team will carefully guide you through all the steps to ensure the best results from your rhinoplasty recovery in Annapolis. While full recovery from rhinoplasty can take up to a year, the first six weeks following rhinoplasty are especially critical to properly healing your nose.
Week 1
Following your rhinoplasty surgery in Annapolis, your surgeon will use a splint to protect the structure of the nose and bandages to protect the wound and stitches. During this first week after your nose job, you will experience facial swelling that might reach your eyes and cheeks. As your nose is especially vulnerable in the first week, we recommend the following:
Sleep with your head elevated
Because your nose is especially delicate during this first week, you must sleep with your head elevated rather than on your side, which may cause it to shift more to one side.
Avoid putting pressure on the bridge of your nose
Because the bridge of your nose is also fragile after surgery, you should avoid wearing glasses or sunglasses, which can inadvertently affect its shape.
Use saline drops to blow your nose
As your surgeons will explain, you should not blow your nose throughout the eight weeks post-surgery. Instead, you will be guided on how to use saline drops to clear your stuffed nose.
Avoid physical activity
During this first week, you should avoid all strenuous activities and minimize household chores to the best of your ability. Your primary focus should be to rest and recover from surgery.
Week 2
By the second week post-rhinoplasty, most of your facial swelling should have subsided, and your surgeon will likely have removed your stitches and splints. Do not be fooled, though—your nose is still very delicate at this point, and we recommend continuing with most of the recommendations listed for week 1. You may return to work or, better yet, work from home by the end of the second week.
Weeks 4 to 6
By this point in your rhinoplasty recovery, your bones should be considerably more stable. As a result, you can resume light cardiovascular activities like jogging and biking. You should, however, avoid more strenuous activities like weightlifting or contact sports. We recommend that you continue to avoid blowing your nose during this period.
Weeks 6 to 8
Your nose is finally stable enough post-rhinoplasty to resume weightlifting and wearing glasses and sunglasses. This is also when you may safely blow your nose again.
While full recovery from rhinoplasty in Annapolis takes about one year, the most critical period is the first two months following surgery. For the best possible results from your surgery, you should carefully follow your surgeon’s recommendations and avoid or modify certain activities until they are safe to resume.
Schedule a Consultation at Our Annapolis Office to Learn More About Rhinoplasty Recovery
To learn more about what to expect during your rhinoplasty recovery in Annapolis, contact us today. We look forward to working with you on a successful recovery!