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Three important tips for rhinoplasty recovery

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Three Important Tips For Rhinoplasty Recovery

If you’ve just had a nose job, or are considering having one, you’ll probably have a few questions for your surgeon. Besides preparing for the surgery, you might be wondering how to protect your nose post-operation. What happens when you awake from surgery and it’s time to head home for some well-earned recovery time? How do you take proper care of yourself at home?

Regardless of whether you’re having a rhinoplasty in Sydney, Perth, or Brisbane, your surgeon will always provide you with some important tips for getting the most out of your surgery. These are three important tips for getting the best results from your post-nose job recovery.

  1. Lubricate your nose

Your surgeon may advise that you use a saltwater solution called saline intranasal spray after your surgery. Surgeons advocate for different sprays, but most will say you should use one for at least four to six weeks after your surgery. This will prevent dryness and flaking off the skin. What’s more, it is imperative for you to keep your nose tissue moistened, as this will hasten the healing process.

Using a high-quality nose spray will also alleviate some of the congestion that comes with a nose job, and this will help you breathe a lot better after your surgery. Always listen to your surgeon’s advice and use any medication as prescribed. You may want to go for the quickest, easiest option at your local pharmacy, but make sure your surgeon gives you the green light before doing so.

  1. Avoid blowing your nose

Rhinoplasty can leave the nose feeling highly congested, especially in the first week while your packing and split are still in place. You will really want to blow your nose, but please take your surgeon’s advice before reaching for the Kleenex.

Sneezing, sniffing, and blowing your nose can cause it to bleed, and a bleed could prolong the recovery time or, at worst, cause an injury. It’s most likely that the congestion in your nose is swelling, packing or fluids left over from the surgery. It should all stay there until your nose is ready to get rid of it.

People often can’t breathe properly for up to two weeks after their surgery, and this is completely normal. You may also have a hard time smelling (and subsequently, tasting) food in the first couple of weeks of recovery, but it won’t last that way for long, and pretty soon you’ll be enjoying all your favorite foods again to the fullest!

  1. Patience is key

Despite the short amount of time it takes to conduct rhinoplasty surgery, it takes a little longer for the results to become apparent. As time goes by after your surgery, you might start to wonder if you are going to get the result you envisioned. But take a deep breath before you question your choices! It takes time to see the full results of rhinoplasty, so don’t worry too much when your bandage is taken off and it might not be exactly what you had originally envisioned – this typically comes later.

Recovery times vary between people, but it also depends on whether you chose open or closed rhinoplasty. Your surgeon will inform you of how long it should take for your nose to heal and take the shape you hope for. Small changes occur all the time, so a good way to feel confident about your surgery would be to take photos each week of recovery so you can see the changes taking place. This could eradicate a lot of the doubt that can come with recovery.