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.
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.
Sleeping on your back is the best way to avoid damaging the healing tissue since sleeping on your side could place unwanted pressure on your nose. To reduce side effects, such as swelling, you should also keep your head elevated.
Weeks 2-4: Major bruising will be gone, swelling and discoloration will continue to fade. After about a month, any obvious traces of your surgery should not be visible. After Week 4: You will begin to see the initial results of your surgery. However, your nose will still continue to subtly heal.
3 to 6 Months: Numbness and abnormal skin sensations around your nose should be completely gone by this point. One year: By this point, the healing process should be complete, give or take a few weeks or months. You shouldn't experience any swelling, bruising, discomfort, redness, or pain at this point.
Yawning should also be avoided as extreme facial expressions may result in permanent damage to the rhinoplasty and the patient may not get their desired results. It is best to avoid extreme expressions for the first few weeks after getting the rhinoplasty done.
How long should I wait after nasal surgery to kiss my partner? – I tell patients to wait 6 weeks before returning to contact sports, so if you consider kissing a contact sport, then 6 weeks. If not, then you can kiss your partner as soon as you are able to do so painlessly.
Answer: Sleeping position post Rhinoplasty
To minimize swelling and for increased comfort it is recommended to sleep with the head elevated on two pillows for the first 3-4 days after surgery until swelling starts resolving.
Bending over is not recommended for at least three weeks, as this can increase swelling and aching. Avoid exercise for the allotted timeline of four to six weeks, and avoid activities that will be likely to injure or damage your nose.
Your tip should drop between five and ten degrees after rhinoplasty. This drop is due to gravitational pull and your incisions tightening. Any drop that is greater than that means there may have been a surgical complication.
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.
After a rhinoplasty procedure, don't be surprised if your smile is temporarily affected by post-operative swelling. The effect is temporary and your smile will return to normal after the initial swelling has dissipated. This may take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.
How long should I tape my nose after rhinoplasty? Nose taping is often recommended for 1-3 months after a rhinoplasty procedure.
2 - 3 Months Post-Rhinoplasty
By this point, any swelling around the bridge of the nose should have subsided completely. You may still experience some numbness at the tip of the nose. This is normal and the feeling should gradually return. The scar from an open procedure will begin to fade.
The taping helps reduce swelling and promote healing. The tape should be worn continuously until the second week after surgery. The third and fourth week you will tape your own nose before you sleep.
Smoking or Alcohol Consumption
Smoking restricts blood flow, and alcohol is known to interfere with the activities of prescribed medicines during the recovery process, which may lead to excessive bleeding, infection, and more. Stay away from smoking and consuming alcohol for at least 3 to 4 weeks after the Rhinoplasty.
Performing special massage techniques on the nose around two weeks after rhinoplasty can help to reduce swelling both on the sidewalls of the nose, as well as the nasal tip.
The simple answer is no, laughing or smiling is not likely to ruin your rhinoplasty if you do it in moderation. However, if you laugh or smile too hard, it can put unnecessary strain on your incisions and cause them to open up. It's important to be mindful of this and take it easy for the first few weeks after surgery.
As the post-surgical swelling gradually subsides, nasal sensory perception will improve and smells and tastes will become more defined again. In most patients, it takes about 3 to 6 weeks for sense of smell to fully return.
Laughing after nose surgery
Fortunately, after reconnecting the muscles together, which is about two to three weeks, laughing returns to its previous state and its problems would be resolved .
How long do you have to sleep on your back after rhinoplasty? 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.
Many factors could cause uneven nostrils for a short period after rhinoplasty surgery. For example, swelling may affect the appearance of each nostril differently. You can rest assured that your nostrils will return to normal size once your nose is fully healed.
Six weeks after your procedure, the cartilage and bones in your nose will be fully settled. At this time, there will be no restrictions on the exercise you can perform.