How to Recover from Your Rhinoplasty with Ease

If you’re bothered by your nose or you have trouble breathing through it, a rhinoplasty (nose job) can be a life-changing procedure. It’s just that, though: a procedure. And like any surgery, it comes with a recovery window. 

We’re here to help it go as quickly and painlessly as possible. As an experienced facial plastic surgeon, Matthew W. Shawl, MD, doesn’t just perform rhinoplasties. He also works closely with his patients to help them recover from them. 

If you’ve thought about getting a nose job, don’t hesitate to visit our New York City office in Union Square. We can help you figure out what to expect, both in terms of your rhinoplasty results and the recovery period.

For the latter, we have a few tips to help: 

#1: Plan to rest — and enlist help

Sleep plays a big role in the body’s healing process, so try to get lots of it. For the first few days, you should sleep and nap with your head propped up by pillows. 

See if you can have someone around the house to help you those first few days. If they can bring you a glass of water, for example, it can save you the discomfort of getting up while your nose is tender. 

Most of our patients take at least a week off work. If you can take longer, it usually makes the recovery process more comfortable and less stressful. 

Plan to spend at least a few weeks away from any strenuous activity to allow your nose to heal. 

#2: Be diligent about following our instructions

After rhinoplasty, we send you home with detailed directions about how to care for yourself and your surgery site. Be thorough in following them.

Some people stop taking any pain medication we’ve prescribed because they think they don’t need it, for example. But you might not realize you needed it because the medication is working as intended. Once that discomfort kicks in, it can be hard to ditch it. Continue taking your medication as prescribed until we tell you to stop.

Also, be sure you’re thorough and careful about changing any dressings. If you have tape on your nose, we usually recommend waiting until it falls off. 

Your care guide should tell you how to navigate everything, but you can always call us if you have questions.  

#3: Support your digestion

Between the general anesthesia and the sedentary few days after rhinoplasty, a lot of people struggle with constipation. You can be proactive here. Start taking a fiber supplement a few days before your surgery, and keep taking it for at least a week after.

If you do notice that you’re having trouble going, talk with us. A mild laxative is usually enough to avoid any serious discomfort. 

#4: Be patient

While you’ll start to see the shape of your new nose within a few weeks, it often takes months for the swelling to fully subside. That means you won’t be able to enjoy your full results for a bit, but try your best to be patient. 

If you’re curious about rhinoplasty and you want to choose a team that will support you during your recovery period, call us or book your visit online today.