Post-Operative Care Important For Recovery After A Nose Job

The results of a good nose job or rhinoplasty can be extremely satisfying and confidence-inspiring. Yet it does take some work and patience to get to those fabulous results. One of the most important parts of achieving a beautiful outcome is carefully following the plastic surgeon’s post-operative care instructions.

How To Take Care After The Surgery
Some of the first effects of a rhinoplasty are that you will develop will be some pain and swelling and perhaps even some headache. In order to deal with these side-effects your surgeon will ask you to spend the rest of your day post-surgery lying down with your head elevated.

This will help keep the blood flowing downward, carrying healing nutrients and oxygen to the nose as well as keeping the blood from pooling in. This will help alleviate the pressure and swelling. You should also sleep with your head elevated with two or more pillows at night for the same purpose.

During the next few days you can also apply cold compresses to help deflate the swelling, although the majority of the visible swelling may take two to three weeks to truly subside.

You should also immediately begin taking any antibiotics and pain killers prescribed by your physician as this will allow you to relax from pain. It will also allow your system to fight off any possible infections that would slow down the healing process.

Good post-operative care also includes drinking plenty of water and other fluids to keep your body well-hydrated and eating soft and easily chewed foods.

What Not to Do
You will be advised not to participate in strenuous physical activities for several weeks after your rhinoplasty, including heavy lifting or heart rate-raising exercise. This may cause more bleeding. Neither should you bend over, allowing your head to go below your waist.

After surgery you should not blow your nose or eat foods that are hard to chew, for an entire week as this may cause excess bleeding. It is also unadvisable to get exposed to direct sunlight without sunscreen for six months as sunburn could result in more problems.

Under no circumstances should you smoke or be a passive smoker during your recovery from the rhinoplasty. Smoking is known for impeding the healing process, causing the final results to be less than optimal.

After a nose job surgery, it is very important to follow your doctor’s orders to the letter in order to promote the best possible results. Be sure to ask your doctor questions as often as they arise about the proper care and treatment of your nose.