Whether you feel self-conscious about the proportions of your nose or you have trouble breathing through your nose at night, a nose job may be an ideal surgical solution for your concerns. A rhinoplasty is a minimally invasive plastic surgery technique that can greatly alter the dimensions of your nose and nasal passage. Learn everything you need to know about this procedure before you schedule a consultation at Boulder Plastic Surgery in Boulder, CO.
How Long Is Recovery After a Rhinoplasty?
Your initial recovery phase after this procedure will usually be about seven to 10 days, although your total recovery time could be as long as two to three months. The initial recovery period after your procedure is essential since it is the time when you will have to pay the most attention to aftercare instructions such as using nasal splints, tape, or other dressings for the first week.
Aftercare Tips
There are several aftercare instructions you need to follow during the initial recovery period after your procedure. For example, most people will take at least one week off of work to focus on resting and healing. It’s best to sleep with your head elevated for the first one to two weeks. Some people can benefit by using a cold compress on the nose to speed up healing.
It’s also important to have a healthy diet after a surgical procedure. In particular, you will want to eat a protein-rich diet and take a multivitamin supplement that contains vitamin C and vitamin A, as all these elements are essential for bolstering your immune system and speeding up your healing response.
Can You Blow Your Nose After Surgery?
You will not be able to blow your nose after your surgery for several weeks. This is because blowing your nose can disrupt the results of your rhinoplasty by forcing air through nasal passages and potentially damaging tissues. Please wait to blow your nose until after your surgeon has cleared you after a follow-up appointment.
You should also do your best to avoid sneezing since this could disrupt your healing. If you feel a sneeze coming on, try to sneeze open-mouthed to redirect some pressure from your nose. Many people use an antihistamine or other allergy medication to avoid sneezing altogether. Please discuss using allergy medication during your recovery period with your surgeon and primary care physician.
When Can You Start Exercising Again?
You will not be able to exercise at all for at least three weeks after your procedure. After three weeks, you can resume most light-intensity exercises such as walking, Tai Chi, or moderate yoga. After around six weeks, you can start moderate-intensity exercises, such as using a treadmill for uphill walking, cycling, and some forms of dancing. After eight weeks, you can resume high-intensity exercises such as running and weightlifting.
When Will You Have a Follow-Up Appointment?
You usually have your first follow-up appointment three to five days after your procedure which will check on the dressings on your nose. You may have up to seven to 10 additional follow-up appointments during the first three months after your procedure to ensure your nose is healing correctly. After the first three months, you may have a follow-up appointment every six months until your final results develop.
When Will the Final Results Develop?
After four to six months, you should be able to see the initial results of your nose job procedure. However, it can take up to one year for your final results to develop optimally. The speed at which your results will develop is determined by the precise technique used for your nose job and how much work was done to achieve your optimal results.
Other FAQs
Is Anesthesia Used for This Procedure?
General light anesthesia is used for this procedure to sedate you until the surgery is completed. Most rhinoplasty procedures are completed on an outpatient basis, but some people with certain health conditions may require an overnight inpatient stay to recover from the surgery. Some patients may also prefer an overnight stay at the hospital to ease into the recovery period at home.
How Long Does This Procedure Take?
This procedure usually takes about two to three hours to complete. The length of your surgery time will depend on whether you are having an open or closed rhinoplasty. Sometimes, the length of your surgery is also influenced by what type of work is being done. For example, correcting structural irregularities inside the nose will take longer than correcting proportional concerns about the nose.
Why Do People Consider Rhinoplasty?
A nose job is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures in the entire country. Many people consider rhinoplasty purely for aesthetic purposes. For example, you may want a nose job if you feel that your nose is out of proportion with the rest of your face, if there are any bumps or depressions on the nose bridge, if the nostrils are too wide, or if the nose tip is hooked, upturned, or enlarged. Other reasons people may consider a nose job include:
Previous Injury
If you have a previous injury such as a broken nose, this can cause both aesthetic concerns and breathing disruptions. A nose that has been repeatedly broken is typically very crooked, which may hurt your overall self-esteem. A broken nose may also cause a deviated septum, which can make it difficult to breathe.
Breathing Problems
Breathing problems from a deviated septum or other structural irregularities in the nose can be a major concern for many people. This is particularly true for people who have trouble breathing at night. For example, if you frequently feel stuffy or like you can’t breathe through one nostril, this could force you to breathe through your mouth, which can cause dryness and oral health issues.
Are the Results of This Procedure Permanent?
The results of this procedure are intended to be permanent. Adults who use this procedure can typically enjoy these results for the rest of their life. The only reason your results may not be permanent is if you sustain an injury to your nose in an accident. The reason the results of this procedure will be permanent is that once the nose has finished growing in the late teens, it will remain the same size and shape throughout adulthood.
Is There a Best Age for This Treatment?
Patients as young as 15 or 16 can use a nose job to correct concerns about the appearance or function of the nose. The best age for this procedure is after the nose has completed its growth, which typically happens before age 18. If a minor is interested in a plastic surgery procedure, they will need parental consent and a thorough consultation so the patient understands the process for the surgery.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Candidates for this surgical procedure include those who are physically healthy, those who do not smoke or use tobacco products, and those who have realistic expectations for the results that can be achieved with a surgical procedure. It’s important to be in good physical health because general anesthesia will be used for this procedure.
People who have certain health conditions, women who are pregnant, and people who are not compatible with general anesthesia are not good candidates for this procedure. Patients younger than 15 are also not qualified for this surgery.
What Can You Expect During Your Consultation?
Your consultation is one of the most crucial parts of your nose job journey. During your consultation, we will go over your health history and your aesthetic concerns to understand why you want to have this procedure and to create a treatment plan that will target your specific goals.
For a procedure such as this one, it’s ideal to have a specific aesthetic goal in mind, especially if you want to significantly alter the size and shape of the nose. For that reason, many patients bring in photographs of nose shapes that they like, as this can help a plastic surgeon understand your goals and your aesthetic preferences.
Consider a Nose Job for Your Aesthetic Concerns
Breathing problems, previous injuries, and an out-of-proportion nose are all good reasons to have a nose job procedure. The recovery period for this procedure is about seven to 10 days and the final results of this procedure can appear in about one year. Contact Boulder Plastic Surgery in Boulder, CO to schedule a consultation today.