While you may be anxious to return to your preferred sleeping position, it is critical that you continue sleeping on your back with your head elevated for about 7 – 10 days after rhinoplasty, or until cleared by Dr. Khorsandi.
And general guidelines for sleeping after rhinoplasty are: In the early recovery period it is beneficial to sleep on your back, with your head elevated on a pillow for at least two weeks to avoid lying on the side or front of your nose, (which would put pressure on and deform the operated area).
Keep Your Head Elevated
Sleeping on your side after rhinoplasty isn't just uncomfortable – it can prolong your recovery time by causing additional bruising and swelling. More frighteningly, it can displace your nose. To avoid this, you'll need to keep your head elevated at night for 6 weeks following surgery.
The best sleeping position after rhinoplasty
Your nose will be less likely to be damaged if you sleep on your back. Keeping your head elevated by using a pillow or two will allow you to reduce swelling in less time as sleeping upright reduces swelling faster. Elevation will also help to avoid congestion build-up.
Luckily, one week post-operatively, it is safe to resume sleeping on your back or side, provided that you are careful to avoid putting pressure on your nose. While it is safe to lie flat on your back or carefully on your side, it is important to understand that doing so may prolong swelling and bruising.
Sleeping on your side or stomach is not recommended for several weeks after the procedure because it places unnecessary pressure on your nose. Resting on your back in an elevated position cuts down on congestion and minimizes swelling after rhinoplasty surgery.
Prop up your head
You will have to sleep with your head elevated for 24-48 hours after surgery to help the bleeding slow down and help the swelling resolve.
For the first two weeks following surgery, avoid pursing the lips as in whistling, applying lipstick, kissing, or sucking on a straw. Allowing the nose to heal with as little movement as possible will improve both your cosmetic and functional results.
We typically recommend taping the nose during sleep. The majority of swelling occurs during the evening and this prevents the nose from swelling in the morning.
Answer: Sleep on Side After Rhinoplasty
It takes six weeks until the bones have healed completely post rhinoplasty.
After about 6 weeks your nose will be roughly as strong as it was before the operation. The strength of the nose returns faster than the sensitivity subsides. So, even though the nose may be quite strong, it will still feel quite delicate and sensitive to the touch.
After rhinoplasty surgery, your nose will be extra vulnerable as a result of the changes made to this structure. Your bones, cartilage, and surrounding tissues will be more fragile as they heal, sometimes for up to a year after surgery.
Taping can be effective to subside the swelling and shrink the skin down. It doesn't, however, affect the shape and form of the nose.
Three weeks post-rhinoplasty, about 70 percent of swelling is gone. This is the time when a patient starts to recognize the changes and begins to appreciate the new shape of his or her nose. It's ok, actually quite normal, to feel a little self conscious at this time.
Don't touch your nose: Patients should take great care to avoid putting any pressure on their nose, including even touching the nose, for at least 1 – 2 weeks after surgery, or until Dr. Khorsandi advises that it is okay to do so.
If your nose starts to bleed at all during the first two days post-surgery, sit up straight and do not tilt your head backwards or lie down.
If the nose taping process is not followed as directed, it could lead to: Nose deformity. Extended healing time. Additional complications.
Temporary swelling and bruising around eyes and nose will increase at UMHS Plastic Surgery Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) Post-Operative Instructions - 2 - Page 3 first and peak after 2 or 3 days. Most swelling and bruising should disappear within 2 weeks.
Smiling and laughing 2 weeks after a Rhinoplasty should not have any impact on the final result.
The result of rhinoplasty is usually satisfactory at the end of the operation, but four to six weeks later we unfortunately observe that the tip occasionally droops.
The answer largely depends on what your doctor recommends, but usually patients will be able to wash their face within a few days of the procedure. Unless you have splints that need to stay dry before its removal, you should be able to maintain personal hygiene soon after coming home from the procedure.
Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, you may take a mild laxative (like Miralax). Sleep with your head raised up (if you can sleep that way).
1–2 days Your nose will feel sore, and much more stuffy than it did before the operation. Once the dressings are removed from your nose, you may still need to breathe through your mouth for a week or so.
Due to swelling and inflammation, it is normal to have trouble breathing through the nose almost immediately after rhinoplasty surgery. These side effects subside over time as your nose starts to heal.