Many of our patients worry that rhinoplasty will impact their ability to smell. The good news is, although some changes to smell are common, most patients regain their full sense of smell in about 4-6 weeks.
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.
Your ability to smell and taste will return as soon as your nasal passages clear up or the swelling goes down. For many patients, their senses may fully return within three to six weeks. Complete healing can take six months to a year, and there should be no lasting or permanent effects on taste or smell.
For a short time after surgery, both senses will be diminished because the tissue in your nose will be swollen, which can block your airflow. As your nose heals and the swelling decreases – usually in about three weeks – your senses of smell and taste will return.
This is due to a variety of factors that can occur during the healing process. During a nose job, the surgeon makes incisions inside and outside of the nose and then adjusts the cartilage and bone structures in order to reshape it. These incisions increase the risk of infection, which can lead to an unpleasant odor.
It is occasionally possible to develop anosmia – loss of sense of smell – (which can also contribute to ageusia – a loss of taste), after the operation which usually settles over one to two weeks, as does any taste problem in most cases.
Your nose may be stuffy and you may have trouble breathing for a short time. The skin on the tip of your nose may be numb. You may have some itching or shooting pain as the feeling returns. If bones were broken during your surgery, you will need to avoid injury to your nose for about 3 months.
Do not wear any make-up, and do not apply any moisturizers, sunscreens, or anything else on your face, head or neck. No hairspray or perfume.
Various drugs, including anesthetic agents, can cause parosmia in the perioperative period. There are reported cases of patients with alterations of smell and taste due to local anesthetics, nerve damage, or as a side effect of general anesthesia.
A numbing procedure usually used to treat pain and post-traumatic stress disorder is being tested as a way to restore smell and taste in people with long Covid. It's called a stellate ganglion block.
Anesthetic drugs can stay in your system for up to 24 hours. If you've had sedation or regional or general anesthesia, you shouldn't return to work or drive until the drugs have left your body. After local anesthesia, you should be able to resume normal activities, as long as your healthcare provider says it's okay.
The second possibility is that you may have had a nerve block at the time of the surgery. This can change the way you sweat, which in turn can lead to changes in your body's normal flora (meaning the bacteria and yeast that live on healthy skin). In either event, the goal is to get rid of the bad bacteria.
Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that can help restore gut health after antibiotics and surgery. Yogurt is also easy to tolerate; it is unlikely to cause nausea or vomiting after surgery. And it contains zinc and protein, two nutrients that promote healing.
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.
What to Do if You Accidentally Bump Your Nose. 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.
Avoid touching until your surgeon certifies that the goal of Rhinoplasty has been achieved and that the nasal region has fully recovered. Any unwanted touch, push, or poking can misalign the cartilage or bone and even undo the positive results.
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.
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.
The tip takes the longest time to heal and mold to the new framework because it's the thickest skin of the nose. If the tip of your nose is still very firm, it may mean that there is still some swelling.
Your sense of smell may not be as good after surgery. But it will improve and will often return to normal in 1 to 2 months. You will have a drip pad under your nose to collect mucus and blood.
Nasal saline irrigation
Your physician may recommend mechanically cleaning the nose and sinuses with saline. This can remove blood and mucus from the nose and help with healing after surgery. Nasal saline spray (such as Ayr or Ocean spray) is available over-the-counter. You may also make saline solution at home.
Low-fat dairy products
Dairy products can be an excellent source of healing after surgery as they contain a lot of protein. But many people experience constipation after consuming dairy products after surgery. There are also cases which show dairy product enhances the secretion inside the lungs.
Foods to avoid
Some options increase the chances of constipation, including cheese, red meat, sugary treats, and processed foods. Processed foods also lack the nutrients needed to heal, so are especially detrimental to your health.
Eating foods rich in protein is important for healing and repairing tissues. Protein also helps your body make new blood cells, which are necessary for wound healing. Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, fish, tofu, eggs, legumes, and nuts.