It’s no over-statement to say that rhinoplasty can have truly transformational effects people’s self-esteem and confidence. The nose is such a prominent feature on the face, after all. Here at Manchester Plastic Surgery we have a strong reputation for rhinoplasty, carrying out hundreds of procedures each year. In this article we look specifically at after-care, sharing our best rhinoplasty recovery tips.
The way we look has a huge impact on our lives. When we look well, we feel well. For most people, the decision to have rhinoplasty isn’t taken lightly, but afterwards they feel significantly less self-conscious: more confident, better able to live life to the full.
Of course, everyone responds differently to surgery but recovery from rhinoplasty takes time. Indeed, it can take up to a year after surgery for everything to settle down. To ensure you of the fastest recovery time, we will provide support and guidance you need.
Rhinoplasty – care required immediately after surgery
When you’ve had your rhinoplasty operation, you should expect to have bruising and swelling on your face, particularly around your eyes. We will apply a special cast to protect your nose which will be removed after a week or so. And you’ll be offered pain killers to reduce the discomfort. It should be possible to leave hospital after a day.
What to do
- Rest! The key to a good recovery is to take it easy immediately after surgery.
- Arrange for a friend or relative to drive you home.
- Ignore housework and cooking – enlist support with these tasks.
- Line up some books, films, music or puzzles – whatever you like to do which will enable you to relax.
- Don’t feel bad about taking this time for yourself. A good start to your recovery will enable you to recover faster.
One week after rhinoplasty surgery
- You’ll need to return to our clinic for your follow-up appointment about a week later. Here we’ll check on your progress and remove the cast – this will be your first chance to see your new nose, though it will still be swollen and bruised.
Two weeks after rhinoplasty surgery
- You will need to continue to rest for at least two weeks after surgery.
- If you work, it may be worth booking this time as holiday. Not only does this help you to recuperate but it also means you don’t have to explain to everyone that you’ve had surgery, as the bruising is likely to still be prominent.
- You’ll need to avoid touching your nose during this time. You’ll be able to wash your face very gently with a soft flannel and warm water, but try to ‘dab’ your skin rather than rub, being particularly careful around the nose. Any little scabs should be left to fall off by themselves, don’t be tempted to interfere with them otherwise you might cause permanent scarring.
- The bruising will begin to settle after a couple of weeks, though it will take a while to disappear completely.
Ongoing care
- It can take up to a year for your nose to settle and for your results to be fully visible.
- Once the bruising is settled you should be able to go back to your normal skin care routine.
- You’ll need to attend your follow-up appointments and generally take good care of your skin, washing gently and moisturising regularly.
Most people find that when following our straight-forward advice they recover relatively quickly from rhinoplasty surgery. However, if you have any queries at any point after your surgery, you can always get in touch with us for support and advice.
