Rhinoplasty: Top 10 Before and After Tips You Need To Know

One of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures is rhinoplasty. The nose is one of the most defining characteristics of the face. Just a slight modification of the nose will greatly improve one’s appearance.

Besides improving the way your nose looks, rhinoplasty can also make it look more proportionate to the rest of your face. A rhinoplasty surgeon can help you correct your breathing problems that are caused by a deviated septum or trauma to the nose such as an accident.

Before surgery

After you’ve consulted with board-certified plastic surgeons and have decided on a highly qualified surgeon who has administered many rhinoplasties, aka nose jobs, you are ready to prepare for surgery.

1. It is important to discontinue the use of any aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, and herbal supplements two weeks before and two weeks after your rhinoplasty surgery.
2. Give up smoking for at least two to four weeks prior to your surgery.
3. Stock up on prescriptions ahead of your surgery date if possible.
4. Make sure you have plenty of lip balm and cool beverages on hand. Your mouth will get very dry from breathing through it.
5. Enlist the help of a relative or friend to help with your first two days and nights post-op. It’s great to have support, someone to fetch your beverages and soft foods, and a person to keep track of when you’ve taken your meds and when you’ll need more.
6. Make sure you and your doctor are on the same page about what you want–and don’t want–done to your nose. Speak up, or you may regret it later.
7. If you are feeling anxious, make another appointment with your surgeon and ask more questions.
8. Arrange transportation for after your surgery.
9. Do anything strenuous that needs to be done before surgery. You’ll want to avoid heavy lifting for at least three weeks post-op.
10. Bring comfortable clothes to wear home. Front-buttoning tops are better than shirts that pull over your head.

After surgery

1. Elevate your head while sleeping to decrease swelling.
2. Avoid bumping your nose (watch out for pets, bedmates, and small children), avoid workouts and straining for two weeks, and call your doctor’s office with any follow-up questions.
3. A low-salt diet is required to help minimise fluid retention in the nasal tip.
4. Eat soft foods for the first week or two.
5. After a nose job, don’t wear glasses for four weeks. If you wear glasses, then you can tape them to your forehead or use some board-certified cushion like foam to wedge in-between your glasses and nose. This will allow you to wear your glasses but not disrupt your nose from healing.
6. Wear hats and sunscreen for several months after surgery to prevent swelling and promote healing.
7. Ask your doctor how to best handle blowing your nose, congestion, or any other nose-related issues that may emerge.
8. If you’re experiencing pain, stay on top of your medication schedule. If you let the pain escalate, it can be difficult to get it under control again.
9. If you feel sleepy, take a nap. Sleeping promotes healing, so benefit from it anytime you can.
10. Keep in mind that swelling can take weeks, months, even a year or two to subside. What you see in the beginning, is not how you will look once you are healed.

Have Realistic Goals and Expectations about Your Rhinoplasty Procedure

You can do this with the use of computer imaging to give you a general idea of what you may look like after your surgery. This will give you an excellent opportunity to have an in-depth discussion about your goals and expectations with your doctor at Sydney Nose Job Clinic – Shire Cosmetic.

During your discussions with your doctor, be sure that you fully understand the plan for the procedure. By setting reasonable and realistic expectations and giving your doctor details about what you want, you’ll have less difficulty adjusting to your new nose after surgery.