What To Expect During Rhinoplasty Recovery?
What is it like to get a nose surgery
It really depends on what you have done. A small revision to the tip of the nose is different than a procedure that requires an alteration of the nasal bones.
Of course, different people react differently to the same surgery. As a very general rule I would equate the experience with having you wisdom teeth removed. (Jay M. Pensler, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
One of the best tools for predicting the result of a nose surgery is video imaging. I use it with all my nose patients and give them a copy of the anticipated results.
Everyone knows that the imaging results are not exact, but the general final product is understood. It, on occasion, helps me because I sometimes discover issues that were missed on physical exam. (Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
Nose surgery for Broken Nose
It is a very rewarding experience. It can straighten the nose and also can make it look nicer. It then changes the whole facial look.
The down time is about one week off from school and/or work. Regards (Tanveer Janjua, MD, Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon)
What nose surgery is Like
If you are referring to the aftercare and recovery, then nose surgery is like having a bad cold for 3-5 days with a slow bloody nose. If you get that image in your head, then you will be prepared for the first few days.
What to expect after nose surgery image
The amount of bruising and swelling depends on the surgery that you had. Generally most of it is gone by 7-10 days. The nose will not be in its final shape at that time, but you will feel socially acceptable. 80% of swelling is gone by 1 month. Final result is at 1-1.5 years. Computer imaging can give you an approximate idea of what cosmetic alterations are realistic for you. (Richard W. Westreich, MD, Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Natural looking nose surgery
I tell my patients that if nose surgery is done skillfully, no one will realize that they have had the operation. People will know that something about them is different, but they will not realize what it is. I sometimes bet patients that their own parents will not know what they have done when they are seen three weeks post-operatively. I have never lost the bet!!(Howard T. Bellin, MD (retired), Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Nose surgery expectations
What to expect after nose surgery gallery
What to expect after nose surgery photos
A nose surgery is a good procedure to correct nasal fractures from previous injuries. You will have some discomfort after surgery and you will probably want to take it easy for the first week or so. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Nose surgery for broken nose
If you broke your nose, you may have broken the bones and also dislocated or fractured your nasal septum. This is expecially true if your nasal bones and septum deviate to the same side or if the septum curves from one side to the other. With a nose surgery, you may need an open approach to the septum to reconstruct it properly and reinforce it. Otherwise the bones may not straighten.
If you have a breathing problem, this surgery would also be designed to fix that. If you want any cosmetic changes, that could also be done at the same time. (Stuart H. Bentkover, MD, Boston Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Nose job experience
What you might experience from undergoing a reconstructive rhinoplasty procedure really depends on what is being done to your nose. If the injury has caused a slight contour issue to the bridge, you might experience only a slight amount of swelling and a relatively shorter recovery period.
If the nose has to be broken and/or there is a need for additional structural work to be done, you may have a slightly longer initial recovery period. The following is typical for many patients. Most of my rhinoplasty patients will tell you they experience only mild discomfort for a few days.
This is typically well controlled with low dose pain medication such as Vicodin. I cannot remember the last time I used packing inside of the nose, which makes for a much easier recovery.
The cast, bandages and sutures are removed in 4-6 days. On that day of the ‘reveal’ your nose may be noticeably swollen but settles quite a bit by 10-14 days out from surgery.
As the weeks and months go on, the swelling continues to subside. Ultimately, you should expect upwards of a year for the nose to completely heal. (John M. Hilinski, MD, San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Nose job to correct a broken nose
Most nose job operations are done under general anesthesia and patients leave the surgical center to go home after surgery. The majority of surgeons do NOT use packing in the nose, which makes recovery more unpleasant. You will have bruising around your eyes for about a week.
If the tip of your nose is not altered during surgery, your final surgical results will become clear in about three months. If the nasal tip is altered, the final result will be manifest in six months.
Most patients who have had nose job look good enough to return to work or school in about ten days. See the link below for more detail. (Maurice M. Khosh, MD, New York Facial Plastic Surgeon)
What you will have to deal with after nose job
The good news is that your recovery is not as bad as you may think. While your broken nose may have been very painful and traumatic in college, nose job is performed under controlled and surgically precise circumstances.
This is provided that you are undergoing surgery by an experienced nose job surgeon. While a break in your bones from a fall or other situation traumatically tears the soft tissue attachments of the bones (which contain the nerves!), a controlled break with a sharp instrument in the operating room can be less traumatic with less brusing. Most often patients complain about the first 2 or 3 days because they are more uncomfortable from the “pressure and congestion” feeling rather than outright pain.
There are many little maneuvers that can be done in the operating room to also reduce your pain further and limit bruising and swelling as much as possible. The rest is up to your genetics and how well your body heals. Hope this was helpful. Do your research and choose a board certified plastic surgeon with nose experience. Google his/her name and read everything! (Ashkan Ghavami, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Nose job expectations
Nose job surgery can take from 2-4 hours depend on what is being done. After surgery you will have swelling, bruising around the eyes, splint on the nose for two weeks, most of the swelling will diappear in three weeks some swelling remain for 12 weeks. You will feel congested with discomfort. (Samir Shureih, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)
Many nasal fractures result in a crooked nose which can be corrected with a nose job. If only the nasal bones are crooked, this is usually a straightforward procedure. You can expect your nose to look good again.
We do counsel patients that there is always a small chance the nose won’t be “perfectly” straight, or there may be persistent irregularities. The recovery after nose job is fairly mild. You can expect your nose to be stuffy for 1-2 weeks, and there may be some bruising and swelling around your nose and eyes.
Ice and Sinecch can minimize the bruising. Most patients don’t complain of much pain; often soreness is reported. One still needs to be very careful with the nose for 2 months as any bump can potentially disrupt the results. (Corey S. Maas, MD, San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Rhinoplasty expectations
It is always good to do a great deal of research when considering rhinoplasty. Especially in your case where what you are considering is not truly a rhinoplasty!
The operation you will have is a reconstruction of a traumatic nasal fracture. Yes, you may be considering this for cosmetic reasons, but the fact that you broke your nose changes the dynamics of the operation considerably.
You can expect a week to two weeks of downtime, about 3-6 months for the result to begin to show and ultimately a full year of healing time. Your chance of needing a revision are on the order of 5%. (Jay Calvert, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Expectations for a Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is a very effective surgery that can create natural results with significant changes to your entire facial appearance. The most important step in choosing a rhinoplasty surgeon is doing your research and finding a board certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience with rhinoplasty.
In our practice, we find it essential to use digital morphing software to help show the patient what they may look like after their surgery.
This is an incredibly important communication tool that lets us understand what the patients ultimate goals are and that allows us to show the patient what is and what is not possible.
Finally, as every rhinoplasty is unique, review as many rhinoplasty photos as possible to see a range of results for that surgeon. (Pat Pazmino, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)
Rhinoplasty Results
Well, what you can expect depends on what you want. If you broke your nose and see crookedness or have trouble breathing, you should be able to have your nose straightened and the internal blockage reduced so it looks like it did before your injury. If you want to change other features, such as a hump, size, or shape of the tip you will need a little more work.
A rhinoplasty can easily be done as an outpatient. In all cases, you will not be aware of the actual surgery, but will awaken with a split over the top of your nose and a pad underneath. With some swelling and bruising, you may have black eyes and be stuffy for a couple of weeks. Strenuous activities and contact sports will have to be curtailed for at least several weeks. Usually, there is very little discomfort afterwards. (Randy J. Buckspan, MD, Austin Plastic Surgeon)
Factors to consider when having a rhinoplasty
The most important question to ask yourself before having a rhinoplasty is what is it about my nose I would like different. Then once you have some idea you can see a rhinoplasty expert.
Keep in mind that if you have broken your nose and it is crooked, the hardest thing to do is to guarantee that your nose will end up perfectly straight. Aside from that, you typically need two weeks from strenuous activity to avoid bleeding and you can be black and blue up to two weeks. Swelling can persist for several months and you can have some breathing difficulties through your nose for several weeks.
Pain wise is relatively small for most people and we usually recommend that you do not wear glasses for six to 8 weeks. (Scott Trimas, MD, Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Broken nose with rhinoplasty
You should expect to get a result from rhinoplasty that will give you the shape that you want and give balance to your face. As stated, it is very important to find a board certified plastic surgeon and someone who has experience and a passion for rhinoplasty. (Dustin L. Reid, MD, Austin Plastic Surgeon)
I agree with almost everything said here. Here are the key points.
- Make sure that you see someone who performs at least 25-50 Rhinoplasty per year
- Have a careful a complete discussion of your goals. This will hopefully include image morphing.
- Once you goals are well articulated make sure your surgeon has a clear plan on how to accomplish them
- Understanding that healing takes place in three phases. 7-10 days for initial healing (bruising, etc). 3 months for 75% of swelling to subside, 1 year for the nose to be fully healed (Benjamin C. Marcus, MD, Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Realistic Expectations from Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty can be performed to reduce or increase the size of the nose, remove an unwanted hump, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the width of the nostrils, or change the angle between the nose and the upper lip.
The procedure restores an improved balance between the nose and other facial features.
The best results are often those where change is minimal and natural. Rhinoplasty should never destroy the supportive anatomy of the nose. (Karen Vaniver, MD, Kennewick Plastic Surgeon)
Rhinoplasty can enhance your self confidence
Restoring balance and symmetry of your nose can improve not only your breathing, but also your self confidence.
An experienced rhinoplasty surgeon in your region can analyze your nose and create a plan to restore the nasal airway and the appearance of your nose.
Pain should be minimal post op and the patients usually find the experience very satisfying. (Robert Mounsey, MD, Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Rhinoplasty experience
In answer to your question, What’s it like to get rhinoplasty,” my recommendation is not to focus on the rhinoplasty experience, which lasts one day, and the recovery process a few weeks, but focus on the result which lasts the rest of your life.
Find a surgeon who can give you a good result and that you feel comfortable with, and the rest takes care of itself. (Steve Laverson, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
What to Expect After Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that can correct deviations in the nose, remove a dorsal hump, straighten the nose, make it smaller, adjust the slope and projection of the nose and adjust the size and shape of the nostrils. It is hard to say what your nose will look like after with out examining you first.
But likely, based on what you have stated, your nose will be straight again. Septoplasty is often performed alongside rhinoplasty, sometimes referred to as septorhinoplasty. Often trauma to the nose will create a deviated septum, making it difficult to breathe. This procedure can correct the septum so that airflow can move properly through the nose and you will be able to breathe much better.
When looking for a surgeon to perform your rhinoplasty, be sure that he/she is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This way you know that he/she has undergone extensive training in this field. Also look for a surgeon who is experienced in rhinoplasty. Visit several doctors to ask them about their credentials, experience and what they might help you achieve. (Tarick K. Smaili, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Typical recovery after a Rhinoplasty
A Rhinoplasty is designed to correct nasal deformity, whether from trauma or as it occurs naturally. It is rather common after a nasal fracture to develop abnormalities in nasal appearance. During rhinoplasty the surgeon sculpts entire nose, including the bones and cartilage. Make sure your surgeon is well qualified to asses internal workings of the nose as well, so that it gets properly treated during surgery as well. In our practice typically the patients complain of hardly any pain.
There is mild swelling and occasionally bruising, which greatly dissipates within a week. As for a typical recovery, we expect our patients to be up and about in 1-2 days, driving a car in 2-3 days, and after the splint comes off in 5-7 days they may return to work. We allow our patients to engage in moderate aerobic activities after 10 days, although one needs to be careful not to injure the nose for up to 2 months. (Boris M. Ackerman, MD, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon)
Rhinoplasty should help one achieve their aesthetic goal.
Rhinoplasty will help many achieve both their aesthetic and functional goals. Multiple techniques exist to achieve a balanced, natural appearing result that is functional. One should seek a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of ASAPS, ASPS as well as the Rhinoplasty Society. (Sanjay Grover, MD, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)