A rhinoplasty, or nose job, is a surgical procedure in which a facial plastic surgeon changes the size or shape of the nose, changes its angle in relation to the upper lip, smoothes out bumps or indentations, alters the tip, or corrects other imperfections. In addition to changing the appearance of the nose, rhinoplasty can be performed to correct structural defects in the nose that can cause chronic congestion or other breathing problems.
Rhinoplasty is done in a hospital or surgical center and is performed under local or general anesthesia. It’s generally an outpatient procedure, so in most cases the patients go home the day of the procedure. Recovery from rhinoplasty takes some time, but if you know what to expect, it can go a lot easier.
Prepare your home. You may not be feeling all that great for a couple of days after the procedure, so it’s a good idea to have your home in order. Knowing you won’t have to worry about housework for a few days will put your mind at ease. Also, consider making meals ahead that can be easily reheated for the first couple of days following your procedure.
Take care of social obligations. While you’ll most likely be feeling significantly better after a few days, you won’t be wanting to have any pictures taken or participating in social events until your swelling and bruising subside. While the surgeon will do her best to minimize bruising, it may be inevitable. Your face will be pretty swollen and bruised for a while, but you should start to see improvement after 10 days or so. Swelling can be minimized by keeping your head elevated and using cold compresses.
Arrange for time off work. Following the surgery, you will have a hard splint on the outside of your nose and possibly packing on the inside. The nasal packing will be removed after a couple of days, but you’ll be wearing the splint for about a week. You will most likely feel better after 2-3 days, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be ready to go out. While some people don’t mind rocking the splint in public once they feel well enough to go back to work, others prefer to telecommute until the splint is off and swelling and bruising have reduced.
Follow your surgeon’s instructions to the letter. Your surgeon will give you very specific instructions for things to do both before and after surgery. Follow them exactly. She’s giving them to you for a reason. Most likely, she will give you a list of medications to avoid for a period of time before and after surgery, what to do for pain management following the procedure, and when normal activity can be resumed. Following these instructions will help keep you comfortable and minimize unnecessary risks.
Stock up on household items. In addition to picking up the groceries you’ll need for several days following your rhinoplasty, be sure to have personal care and hygiene items on hand. If your surgeon recommends over-the-counter medications following the procedure, be sure to have those at the ready.
