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Rhinoplasty Recovery Time: What to Expect After Surgery

Rhinoplasty Recovery Time

In 2023, there were over 1.57 million cosmetic procedures performed, which was a 5% increase from 2022. It’s becoming more common to get cosmetic surgery done, especially since there are so many fantastic surgeons around.

After careful consideration, you might want rhinoplasty to address aesthetic issues with your nose. But in addition to spending a large sum of money, you also have to take time off work for recovery. Not only can it be uncomfortable, but it can be lengthy too.

Knowing what happens during rhinoplasty recovery time can help you make a smarter decision and plan ahead. So here’s a rhinoplasty recovery timeline.

Day-by-Day Rhinoplasty Recovery Time

Day 1-2: Immediately After Surgery

We’ll start with day-by-day nose job recovery time since major changes happen immediately after your procedure.

When you get out of surgery, you’ll experience significant swelling and bruising, both around your nose and under the eyes.  The pain is generally mild and manageable, especially if you have prescribed pain medication.

The surgeon will have put a nasal splint in to protect and stabilize the nose. They may also use internal packing to control bleeding. Speaking of bleeding, you may experience light bleeding or drainage from the nostrils, which is common.

You should rest as much as you can during this period. Rest in bed with your head elevated to minimize swelling and discomfort.

Days 3-7: The First Week

After the first two days, the swelling and bruising will begin to subside; however, they’ll definitely still be visible. There will still be enough internal bruising to give you nasal congestion, so you’ll probably have a little trouble breathing. Otherwise, you’ll see progress with external healing.

If your surgeon used non-dissolvable stitches, then they’ll remove these toward the end of the week. The same goes for the external nasal split.

You should continue to rest and take it easy during this time.

Week 2

During this week, most of the bruising around your eyes will have faded. It should be light enough that you can conceal it with makeup, if you wish. You may still have minor swelling on your face though.

Despite this, many patients can return to non-strenuous work and social activities comfortably at this point. Just make sure not to overdo it, and to completely avoid heavy exercise and contact sports.

Weeks 3 and 4

You’ll see noticeable improvement during these weeks, thanks to the significant reduction in swelling. Do note that the tip of your nose may still appear swollen, which is normal. As the internal swelling decreases, you’ll keep experiencing improvements in breathing.

During these weeks, you can resume light physical activity. You should still avoid high-impact or contact sports, and take extra care to ensure that your nose doesn’t get bumped.

Months 1-3

The majority of the swelling should be gone in these months. This means that your nose will begin to take its final shape, although it’ll be closer to a year or more before you see the final results. The tip of your nose will continue to refine, but some residual swelling might still be present.

This entire time, you may have had numbness or tingling in the nasal area. This can persist through the first three months, but it should gradually resolve.

Months 4-6

As you get closer to the half-year mark, you’ll notice that your nose looks more natural and refined. This is due to the swelling fully resolving.

If your surgeon has chosen an open rhinoplasty, then it’s likely that you have scars on the columella (the tissue between nostrils). They’re not very noticeable anyway, but the good news is that they’ll continue to fade over time.

Months 6-12

When you reach the one-year point, your nose should’ve settled into its final shape. However, the tip of the nose may take longer to achieve its final contour, especially if you have a thicker skin type.

By one year, any scars (whether internal or external) are typically minimal and basically invisible.

What Affects Your Rhinoplasty Healing Time?

It’s obvious that the nose job recovery time will differ between patients since everyone’s body is different. However, there are additional factors that can impact healing time further.

First of all, beyond your genetics regarding healing, those with thicker and more sebaceous skin may take longer to heal. Also, those who need more extensive work done will have longer healing times.

Also, the rhinoplasty method your surgeon uses matters. The choices are open or closed, and the former will take slightly longer to heal from since there’s more tip swelling.

Plus, the more diligent you are about following your surgeon’s instructions, the more likely it is that you’ll heal faster. For example, ceasing medications that can make you bruise weeks before your surgery is beneficial. Promptly communicating any issues you have can help too, as smaller problems are easier and quicker to address.

General Tips for Recovery

Most likely, you already know that smoking is bad, but it’s also detrimental to healing. Not only should you not smoke before your surgery, but you should refrain from doing so afterward as well.

In addition, reduce sun exposure as much as possible. If you have to be outside, then protect your nose with sunscreen or a hat to prevent pigmentation issues while healing. Make sure to reapply sunscreen often too.

Lastly, patience is key. As you can see from the above sections, recovery and results take time, so you should expect gradual improvement during the year after surgery.

Know What the General Rhinoplasty Recovery Time Looks Like

The full rhinoplasty recovery time typically spans a year, so if you want a nose job, be prepared for this. While most of the initial healing is complete within a few weeks, it’ll take much longer for the final results to come through.

With this in mind, you’ll have a better time planning your recovery and managing your expectations. Plus, you’ll know how to take care of yourself to accelerate the process.

Get in touch with us today if you’re interested in a nose job consultation. Dr. Valdez specializes in ultrasonic rhinoplasty, which makes recovery faster and virtually painless.

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