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.
The majority of swelling should start to subside within 3-days. you are able to go back to work (or school) just one week after their rhinoplasty. Ease into more strenuous activities. You'll be able to return to social engagements within 2-3 weeks post-op with no visible signs of stitches or scarring.
The nose, especially the tip, will remain hard for several months after surgery, after which the tissue will begin to soften as the remaining swelling fades. It will, however, not reach full softness until about a year after surgery.
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.
1 Week: The splint can be removed from your nose and you can go out in public without showing noticeable signs of surgery unless there is bruising around the eyes. This may take 2 weeks to resolve. It is safe to resume activities of daily living.
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.
Typically, there will be a splint on the outside of your nose to protect it for 5 days or so and in 5 more days the nose has healed so well and you can return to all normal activities, including your exercise program.
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.
The tip of the nose holds onto swelling longer than the other parts of the nose. Open rhinoplasty, where there is an external incision at the base of the nose, swells more and longer than a closed rhinoplasty. Patients with thicker skin will have more swelling.
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.
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.
After about six months, the swelling will improve. The tip will soften a bit and will be less full, but you will still find it a bit swollen. By a year, the tip should be soft and look great. However, some patients require even longer for all the swelling to go away.
No matter what you do to the cartilage, the tip will be bigger after surgery, not smaller!
Recovery typically progresses quickly. You'll feel the worst in the days right after surgery, but should improve every day. If you stay on top of your pain medication and get plenty of rest, rhinoplasty recovery doesn't have to be, and shouldn't be, a painful experience.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 2 to 3 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Do not blow your nose for at least 1 week after surgery. Wipe your nose gently with a tissue.
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.
A: Rhinoplasty usually takes about a year to heal. It's a traumatic operation that affects many of the tissues in your nose. Looking swollen and bulbous at 7 months is perfectly normal.
Another common culprit of increased nose size after rhinoplasty is prolonged swelling of the nasal tip. Because the skin and tissues in the tip of the nose are often much thicker than on the nasal bridge, it typically takes longer for swelling to subside in this area.
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.
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.
After surgery, your body undergoes repair and recovery, which drives a higher baseline metabolic rate and draws on your nutrient stores. So it isn't surprising such intense activity at a cellular level results in feeling tired after surgery.
Sleeping alone for the first week following your rhinoplasty, to avoid your spouse or partner unintentionally coming into contact with your face or nose while sleeping.
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.
Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided for at least 6 weeks following your rhinoplasty. It is also critical that you refrain from smoking following your operation.