Rhinoplasty Recovery

San Francisco plastic surgeon Kimberly Henry offers rhinoplasty to her patients who desire to transform their appearance. Rhinoplasty is among the most transformative of all plastic surgery procedures offered today. Indeed, rhinoplasty allows patients who are dissatisfied with the size, shape, or other elements of their noses to achieve changes that range from subtle to dramatic. Patients may choose rhinoplasty to achieve a smaller or larger nose, change the shape of the tip or bridge of the nose, alter the angle between the nose and the upper lip, or remove bumps from the nose. Rhinoplasty may also be used to correct birth defects.

The nose is the most prominent feature of the face. Because of this, rhinoplasty can bring the facial features into harmony in a way that is not matched by any other cosmetic procedure. Patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their noses often suffer from self-esteem issues. Through the changes achieved through rhinoplasty, many San Francisco rhinoplasty patients experience a boost in self-confidence. Through rhinoplasty, we can help restore a patient’s confidence in his or her overall appearance, which can lead to a substantial improvement in his or her quality of life.

For the vast majority of patients, the benefits of rhinoplasty surgery outweigh any discomfort experienced during the recovery phase. While your rhinoplasty recovery phase will be unique to you, the rhinoplasty recovery phase typically lasts from one to six weeks. To ensure optimal results and an easier recovery phase after your rhinoplasty procedure, it is vital that you diligently follow post-operative instructions. We will provide detailed aftercare instructions during your surgical consultation.

Rhinoplasty Recovery

Because general anesthesia is used during rhinoplasty surgery, patients are not able to drive themselves home after the procedure. Some patients may find it helpful to have someone help care for them during the first few days of their rhinoplasty recovery process. Upon waking up from surgery, it is common for patients to feel groggy, nauseous, and achy. It is typical for San Francisco rhinoplasty patients to feel groggy for at least the first day after their surgery. We recommend that patients go home after surgery and rest.

It is important to sleep with your head elevated for the first 24 hours after undergoing rhinoplasty surgery. This will help minimize swelling that occurs after surgery. For the first few days after surgery, you may experience achiness, a dull headache, swelling, and bleeding. Patients should also expect bruising to occur as a result of surgery. To help minimize discomfort after surgery, pain medication will be prescribed. Bruising resulting from the rhinoplasty procedure can give patients the appearance of black eyes. This bruising should begin to fade within a few days after surgery and should disappear completely after one to two weeks. Most patients are able to return to work within a week after their rhinoplasty surgery. Strenuous activity should be avoided for a minimum of two weeks after rhinoplasty surgery.

Patients should avoid wearing makeup for the first couple of weeks after surgery. Patients who wear eyeglasses should stop wearing them for six weeks after surgery. If eyeglasses cannot be avoided, we recommend that patients wear a protective splint to help protect the nose from the pressure of the glasses.

For the first few days after rhinoplasty, you will not be able to breathe through your nose. It is essential that you do not blow your nose during the rhinoplasty recovery period. To minimize swelling and bleeding after surgery, nasal packing is commonly used. Any sutures and packing will be removed during your post-operative examination. This examination usually occurs seven to ten days after surgery.

Contact Dr. Kimberly Henry Today

To learn more about the rhinoplasty recovery process or how rhinoplasty can benefit you, please contact San Francisco plastic surgeon Kimberly Henry today. She would be happy to answer any questions you may have.