Take this as a given: Recovery after rhinoplasty surgery is not comfortable. You won’t be in huge amounts of pain, or at least you shouldn’t be, but there will be bruising and swelling as well as a stuffed up feeling for at least the first few days.
If your surgeon has given you prescriptions for pain relievers and antibiotics, get the prescriptions filled in advance so that you have them ready when you get home. Take the antibiotics on time and take them for as many days as you are instructed to.
Don’t try to tough it out by not taking pain relievers. If you need them, take them. You will use less pain medication if you take it when the pain starts rather than waiting for the pain to be unbearable.
You may or may not have nasal packing, which is stuffed up your nose to help reduce swelling and bleeding. Packing will make you feel like your whole head is stuffed up and sometimes it can make you feel as if you were smothering. Some people feel overwhelmed a bit by having the packing in their nose. The swelling in your nose may feel like a lot of pressure in that area and can also be a bit upsetting. Some surgeons place a tube or straw in the middle of the nasal packing to help you breathe a bit easier. Your packing, if you have it, will be removed in a few days at your first postoperative appointment.
Some surgeons do not recommend using cold compresses, so check with your surgeon first. However, swelling and pressure can be relieved by icing and many surgeons strongly recommend this. Some patients report that the best things to ice it down with are bags of frozen peas or frozen raspberries. Just be careful you don't puncture the bag from freezing and thawing. It can be a real mess.
Another good trick is to mix one part rubbing alcohol with three parts water. Put a cup of this mixture into a Ziploc bag and seal it and then put that bag inside another Ziploc bag and seal it and place it in the freezer for a few hours. This freezes into a slushy mixture that can mold to your face. Make two or three of these bags so that one is always ready. You can also purchase cold packs that are specially designed for rhinoplasty recovery.
Remember you will be bruised so don’t get too frightened when you look at yourself in the mirror. Most people get two black eyes after nose surgery, so count yourself lucky if you don’t. These bruises may increase or darken as they heal, just like any other bruise, and may go through some lovely shades of purple, green and yellow before they face completely. It usually takes about 10 days for the bruising to disappear completely. However, in smokers it can take up to 3 to 5 weeks. So, quit smoking now for a better chance at a smoother and faster recovery
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Thanks for sharing your blog. I am really impressed by the articles you shared! There are various reasons why individuals opt for this procedure. Some are unhappy with the nose with which they were born or the way aging has changed their nose. For others, an injury may have distorted the nose and in many, there is the additional goal of improving breathing. As the nose occupies a central position on the face, the size and shape of the nose has a great impact on an individual’s appearance.
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