You will have still some swelling and possibly some bruising. You can have some bruising under your eyes sometimes, so you may need to put on some cover-up. But at that point, after one week, you can usually go back to work as long as you're not doing anything very strenuous or heavy lifting.
The first week
Patients are seen at 1 week to remove the sutures and ensure everything is healing normally. Some bruising under the eyes and cheek is normal at this stage but resolves within 10-14 days.
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.
Months 6-12: Within a year, most people can see the final results of their rhinoplasty procedure. Any changes that take place during this time are usually quite subtle. Typically, the swelling has gone down, any repositioned cartilage has settled, and the reshaped skin has conformed to the new structure.
While swelling at the tip following a rhinoplasty can take up to a year to go away completely, 90 percent of the swelling is usually gone in about four to eight weeks. It's not uncommon for a crooked looking nose to straighten out as the swelling slowly resolves.
Swelling after a Rhinoplasty
However, the next week, people often see MORE swelling, particularly in the tip of the nose. Most people look very good by three to four weeks, but the swelling in the tip is almost always still present. I notice that most patients' swelling peaks at one to two months.
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.
2 Weeks After Rhinoplasty: Bruising and swelling is significantly reduced to the point where it's not noticeable to the casual observer. You will feel comfortable enough to return to work by the middle of the second week. Mild exercise may be resumed.
Swelling. Every operation, no matter how minor, is accompanied by swelling of the surrounding tissues. The amount of swelling varies from person to person. Because of the looseness of facial tissue, the swelling is more pronounced in this area, and your facial features may appear distorted.
Smiling and laughing 2 weeks after a Rhinoplasty should not have any impact on the final result.
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.
During the first week following rhinoplasty, the nose is hidden under a cast, so, it is not very appropriate to use make-up during this period. But after a week post surgery, you can start doing make-up. Meaning, make-up can be applied after removal of the facial plaster.
Additional dos and don'ts after rhinoplasty include: 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.
You can take long walks approximately 1 week after rhinoplasty. By the second week, you can begin doing light treadmill and/or stationary bike exercises, but avoid exercises that include lifting of heavy weights. You can begin lifting light weights by the 3rd week.
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 first week is the most critical period for rhinoplasty healing. After 7-10 days, patients can begin to use other sleeping positions. Be careful to avoid putting pressure on the nose, and if you can sleep comfortably on your back while elevated, continue to do so.
If you have minimal swelling and bruising after rhinoplasty or even rhinoplasty with septoplasty and turbinate surgery to fix blocked breathing, you can return to work in the public eyes, perhaps as soon as six to seven days.
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.
Answer: Scrunching nose post rhinoplasty
It's unlikely this will damage your result from rhinoplasty. You should speak to your surgeon regarding the itchy skin. It should resolve but ensure you don't have an inflammation reaction to the splint or an infection.
You'll need to sleep in an elevated position for at least one week, however, it's generally recommended that you wait around 10-14 days before returning to your regular sleeping positions.
Walking after rhinoplasty is great for a few reasons. It helps you avoid boredom, for one thing. It can also help keep you regular and can help reduce muscle soreness or weakness, which can result if you sit still for too long. Walking also gets your blood flowing, which helps reduce swelling.
Answer: Bruising after rhinoplasty
If you have no bruising 5 days after rhinoplasty, you will likely not get any. I usually tell my patients that if we are doing osteotomies, they will likely get bruising. If we don't do osteotomies, they will likely not get bruising.
Moderate exercise like walking can help blood flow and circulate oxygen to help lessen swelling, but avoid any strenuous activity as you heal. Keep your body hydrated by drinking lots of water the week before your surgery, and continue hydration post-operation.