It is a common misconception among patients that any cosmetic surgical procedure will immediately leave them looking like new after surgery. The truth is that there will always be a period of healing after surgery, as the body needs to require a certain amount of time to heal. Patients may be particularly anxious about the healing timeline for a rhinoplasty procedure, as the nose is such a prominent feature on the face. They may be afraid of having to spend months with bandages on their nose. Below is a general outline of the various healing stages for a rhinoplasty to give patients a realistic view of what to expect during the healing process.
One to Two Weeks after Surgery
The nose will look the most bruised and swollen during this period. Remedies such as icing the nose, elevating the head, or taking the herb Arnica montana will help keep bruising down during this phase. Dr. Vincent Marin recommends that patients who wear glasses tape them to avoid placing undue pressure on the nose from the nose pads. Most of the bruising will have gone away within five to seven days following surgery. Patients can generally return to school or work at that time. At this stage, people will not be able to tell that the nose has even been altered.
Dr. Marin will remove any remaining splints, visible sutures, or pack after seven days. Patients may be asked to tape their noses for the first two weeks following surgery to keep down the swelling and prevent scar tissue formation. Dr. Marin will also ask patients to avoid aspirin, St. John’s Wort, fish oil, vitamin E, and ginkgo biloba during these first two weeks, as these can all increase bleeding, which will lengthen the healing time for the nose.
Seven to 20 Weeks after Surgery
By this stage, patients can resume their regular exercise routines, including yoga and contact sports. Glasses will no longer need to be taped in place and can now be worn typically, and the nose will no longer need to be taped at night. There may still be a minimal amount of swelling, but the nose will generally appear perfectly normal to the casual observer. The nose’s final appearance will begin to take shape during this phase, but it may still shift somewhat until at least 12 months after the procedure.
Six to 12 Months after Surgery
By this time, the nose should have mostly taken on its new shape. All swelling and bruising should be gone. However, if the patient has undergone a revision procedure to correct a previous rhinoplasty, it may take up to two years for the nose to reach its final shape.
At this point, the patient will be able to enjoy all the benefits of their new features. With a certain amount of patience, care, planning, and collaborating with the surgeon, patients who elect to have a rhinoplasty will eventually be able to put their new face forward with confidence and style.
*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.
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