Temporary swelling and bruising around eyes and nose will increase at first and peak after 2 or 3 days. Most swelling and bruising should disappear within 2 weeks. Some subtle swelling (noticeable only to you) will remain for several months. Healing is a slow and gradual process.
For a few days after surgery, swelling and bruising of the nose, lips, cheeks or around the eyes is a perfectly normal occurrence. These problems will gradually disappear over the next 7 to 10 days. Using ice therapy and gel bags around the eyes can improve the swelling.
The amount of swelling may vary between different rhinoplasty surgeries depending on the individual and the type of procedure performed. If your nasal bones are fractured, as part of the surgery, you will experience more swelling around the cheeks and eye area.
After the first three weeks, your nose will still feel swollen, but it isn't so obvious to others. Persistent nasal tip Edema is to be expected, but if you notice any abnormalities in your breathing you need to visit a doctor.
Typically, the swelling will peak the second or third day after your surgery. Generally, it will be worse when you first arise in the morning—proof that it's better to remain elevated as much as possible.
Days 1 to 3
During the first 72 hours after your rhinoplasty, focus on taking it easy and letting your body rest. This is usually when the most tenderness, swelling and bruising will occur.
Swelling and Bruising.
Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.
Every patient is different, so recovery times vary, but generally speaking, most patients can expect to look “normal” after about three to four weeks, with a small amount of residual swelling and tenderness lasting about three months — though it is usually only noticeable to the patient themselves.
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.
Swelling is expected to fully disappear between 6 months and 1 year. Patients may feel some heaviness in the nose because of these swellings, however that feeling will go away after the first few weeks.
Bruising under your eyes should be expected with every rhinoplasty. When the nasal bones are narrowed there is almost always a little bleeding underneath the skin. Dark circles under the eyes usually don't appear for at least 24 hours and typically peak within the first 2 days after surgery.
Another important step in minimizing rhinoplasty swelling is drinking plenty of water. By staying hydrated, you can flush toxins out of your body, helping the swelling to dissipate more quickly.
A week after your rhinoplasty surgery, which is usually when your cast comes off, the bruising will likely have lightened to a yellow or brown color. This stage of healing is easy to cover with makeup. In most cases, the under eye circles are completely gone 10 days after your procedure.
Bland foods with balanced protein and carbohydrates that are like a Mediterranean diet are felt to be helpful to reduce inflammation. The key is to stay hydrated with water and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Ibuprofen helps reduce inflammation, and that means less swelling and discomfort while you heal. There are risks associated with taking NSAID medications like Ibuprofen after surgery. The greatest risk is bleeding, since NSAID medication can be somewhat blood-thinning.
Avoid hot showers and baths until your cast is removed – steam can make swelling worse and could even cause your cast to fall off. Avoid taking blood thinning medication – this can impair healing and cause complications.
Although it is difficult, it is extremely important to be patient throughout this process, as the swelling that persists in the tip may cause your nose to appear asymmetrical or bulbous. While this can be frustrating, it is a normal part of the recovery process and the swelling in the tip will continue to dissipate.
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.
If you've accidentally bumped your nose after recently undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure, you should immediately apply a cold compress to help to reduce any swelling.
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.
Your surgeon may have removed an excessive amount of tissue from your nose tip in an attempt to raise your entire nose. The resulting image is a “pig snout.” You may experience this temporarily as a result of post-surgery swelling. It usually disappears after a few weeks.
It might be several months before you see the full effect of the operation, and up to 6 months for the swelling to completely go. After about a week: Stitches can be removed (unless you had dissolvable stitches). The splint may also be able to come off. At 3 weeks: Bruises, swelling and redness may have faded.
The highest incidence of postoperative complications is between one and three days after the operation. However, specific complications occur in the following distinct temporal patterns: early postoperative, several days after the operation, throughout the postoperative period and in the late postoperative period.
There may be a significant correlation between worst pain at 48 hours and return to normal activity within seven days. There may be a risk that patients can not return to normal activities within seven days because of worst pain experience at 48 hours after day surgery.