Recovery
Front and center, the nose tends to be the most dominating facial element. But if you’re self-conscious about its abnormalities, than you’re probably not too happy about its ruling presence on your face. If you have a large bump on the bridge of your nose, a downturned tip or enlarged nostrils, you may be searching for a permanent solution.
At Princeton Plastic Surgery, we offer an effective way to fix the shape, position, structure and dimensional balance of the nose. Also referred to as nose surgery, a rhinoplasty is a great way to improve your overall appearance, but there are a few facts that you should know before committing to this cosmetic procedure.
How to Manage the First Few Days
As with most surgical procedures, the first few days following the rhinoplasty are typically the most challenging. After the two-to-three hour surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery area before being discharged from our outpatient center. You’ll likely still be sleepy from the anesthesia, so it’s important to arrange for someone to drive you home.
During the initial healing period, you can expect some pain and discomfort. The first day, your nose will swell and you may experience mild to moderate bruising around the eyes. By day three, the bruising and swelling will have reached its peak and will gradually diminish over the next couple of weeks. Slight bleeding is also not uncommon during recovery, and will subside after several weeks.
For the first week, you can expect to wear a splint on your nose to ensure the nose stays protected and maintains its new shape. Depending on your individual needs, you may also be required to wear a soft splint inside your nostrils to help stabilize the septum. While the splints may be a little awkward, they shouldn’t be painful, and will both be removed at your one-week follow up appointment.
The Importance of Following Instructions
When you leave our center, you will be sent home with individual care instructions. While downtime isn’t always ideal, following our guidance will ensure a proper healing. Many of our patients return to work about a week after nose surgery, but this will depend entirely on how you’re feeling. You should plan on limiting your physical activities, like strenuous exercise or contact sports, for at least month following the procedure. While there are restrictions, you are probably safe to incorporate walks or other light activity once you are feeling up to it.
We always like to make sure our patients know that the relationship with Dr. Hamawy does not end after your nose surgery. As you recover over the next few months, you are always welcome to contact him with any questions or concerns.
Your first follow-up visit will usually be about a week following the rhinoplasty, where Dr. Hamawy will check on the healing progress and remove the splints. He will also review activity limitations with you and address any concerns you may have about incision care. You will come in for additional post-operative appointments approximately three weeks, three months and one year following the surgery.
Getting “Back to Normal”
Your results will start to become noticeable after the initial bruising and swelling subsides. But the final outcome may take anywhere from nine months to a year. During this time, your newly-sculpted nose will settle into its final shape. While it can be frustrating to have to wait so long, your patience will soon be rewarded with a nose you are proud to wear every day.
Patients consider rhinoplasty for a variety of reasons, including a medical condition, injury or an aesthetic dislike of the shape of the nose. We understand that your personal motivation to undergo nose surgery is unique, and we will happily answer your questions and concerns. To set up an initial consultation with Dr. Hamawy, call our office today at 609-910-1114.
