The recovery from a nose job is actually quite straightforward. Unlike a breast augmentation, a tummy tuck or even liposuction; there isn’t a long list of post-operative instructions. That being said, the instructions you receive need to be followed explicitly.
What to Expect In the Immediate Post-Operative Period
Patients often equate their initial experience after their nose job one of Mike Tysons boxing opponents must have felt. They often look the same in the nose region too. For the first few hours and a couple of days after surgery are the hardest. It’s very common to have black eyes, inside and outside nose swelling, bruising, pain and some bloody drainage. While none of these effects are actually comfortable, they resolve rather quickly with ice packs and rest with your head elevated on a pillow.
The swelling reduces in about four to five days. You won’t initially see this swelling come down because you will be placed in a hard metal and plastic splint on the bridge in the Operating Room. This splint helps the nose heal and keep its new shape. Keep the nose splint clean and dry and do not manipulate it too much.
Most of the time you won’t have any packing placed inside your nostrils. Vaseline or antibacterial ointment can easily be applied to the inside of the nostrils to keep them lubricated, comfortable and this avoids drying out of the inside nose mucous layer. Don’t blow your nose, it may move the cartilages inside your nose before they have a chance to heal in place. The sutures placed inside your nose are dissolvable but they need time to do their job before they dissolve- don’t remove them yourself.
Resuming Your Normal Daily Activities
Most patients can resume their normal schedule within a week; some patients require up to two weeks depending on the complexity of the nose job procedures done in surgery. The splint comes off at the one week mark.
The majority of the visible signs of a nose job (black and blue) should be gone by the two week mark, although you may have some residual bruising or discoloration under both eyes. Hold off on strenuous activities until you are cleared by Dr. Kole. Avoid activities that may cause nasal trauma for 6 weeks time after your surgery.
For an individualized nasal contouring nose job plan schedule a complimentary consultation with Kole Plastic Surgery by calling his office at 215-315-7655 .
