Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline
If you want to enhance the appearance of your face, one of the best ways to go about this is getting a rhinoplasty (nose job). This nasal reshaping surgery can help your face appear more symmetrical and bring prominence to other facial features in the process. Dr. Raymond J. Konior and Dr. Sahar Nadimi have helped a number of patients in the Chicago, IL area seeking facial cosmetic surgery, which is another service offered at the hair institute.
We always strive to provide realistic expectations to our patients. With that in mind, let’s consider the recovery process from rhinoplasty with a focus on how much time it takes and what patients experience during different periods of healing.
Taking Time Off Work
Since rhinoplasty will affect your appearance, it’s a good idea to take time off from work in order to fully recuperate. Most patients will want to take a week to two weeks off. This allows for the major swelling and bruising to run their course.
If you are in a physically demanding profession, you may want to consider additional time off from work to avoid harming the nose while you are in the process of healing. This can be discussed during the pre-op consultation phase.
What to Expect Right After Surgery
After a rhinoplasty, patients can expect grogginess and discomfort, which is normal with any surgery. This is the nature of the general anesthetic and sedative wearing off. Patients should focus on resting after their surgery and take pain relievers as directed.
The First Few Days
In the first few days after a rhinoplasty, a patient will experience the most serious post-op side effects. This includes serious discomfort, bruising, and swelling. Patients should continue to take their pain medication as directed and use cold compresses near their nose to help manage swelling and discoloration.
Patients can walk around their home to help promote circulation after surgery, but they should avoid strenuous physical activity, bending over, and blowing their nose early on to ensure proper healing. These activities can be resumed why given the approval of the plastic surgeon.
End of the First Week
By the end of the first week, rhinoplasty patients will have returned to Chicago Hair Institute for a follow-up visit. This is the first of multiple visits to check on the patient’s healing progress and to remove splints, sutures, stitches, and any other implements placed during surgery.
End of Week Two
Patients are able to return to light physical activities by the end of week two, though there are still limitations on touching the nose, blowing your nose, and strenuous activities. Side effects typically start to subside in a noticeable way by this point. Continue following your post-op instructions carefully.
End of the First Month
By the end of the first month, most of the swelling you experienced should have faded away, though some minor, residual swelling may remain. Moderate exercise routines can be resumed, though strenuous exercise and physical labor may still be restricted until a few more weeks have passed.
Three Months After Surgery
By the three-month mark, patients should be pretty much back to normal. There may be some numbness in parts of the nose still, but most of the numbness will have ended and patients will be able to perform most if not all of the activities they enjoyed before undergoing rhinoplasty.
A Year After Surgery
A full year after rhinoplasty, patients should notice the final results from the procedure. If an open rhinoplasty was performed, the scar along the columella (the skin between the nostrils) should be faded away and even more difficult to detect.
Learn More About Facial Cosmetic Surgery
For more information about facial plastic surgery as well as hair restoration techniques, be sure to contact our skilled surgeons. Chicago Hair Institute is here to help. You can reach Dr. Konior and Dr. Nadimi by phone at (630) 932-9690.
