Is rhinoplasty painful?
Since you will be under anesthesia during the operation, you won’t feel any pain while the surgeon is operating on your nose. In the majority of cases, the surgery is done with general anesthesia, so the patient is completely unconscious during the surgery. In case local anesthesia with sedation is used, you won’t feel pain either. Once the anesthetic medicines wear off after the surgery, you may feel some pain and discomfort, which can be managed with pain killers prescribed by your doctor.
How long does it take to see the results of my nose job?
The initial results of rhinoplasty surgery will appear in 2-3 weeks after the surgery when most of the swelling goes down. When your nose has partially healed after around 3 months, almost 90% of the result will be achieved. As your nose continues to heal and the swelling disappears, the final result will be more apparent and after a year or so you can see the final result of your nose job.
Will insurance cover my rhinoplasty?
Because most of the time rhinoplasty is performed as a cosmetic and elective surgery, insurance doesn’t cover the costs. However, if you undergo nose surgery to fix a functional problem like a breathing difficulty caused by a deviated septum or broken nose, your insurance will probably pay for it. It is recommended that you ask your insurance about this before planning for the costs of your nose job.
What is the best age for rhinoplasty?
There is no specific right age for rhinoplasty but generally, you must be at least 16 or 17 when your nose has reached full maturity. Be sure to consult with a specialist about whether you’re fit for a nose job in terms of age and other factors.
Will rhinoplasty scar be visible?
If the surgery is done with the closed approach (closed rhinoplasty), there will be no visible scar because no external incision is made on the nose. In open rhinoplasty, as an incision is made across the columella (the tissue between the nostrils), there is a chance that you will have a scar left. However, this scar becomes less perceptible as the incision heals to the point that in most cases it is hardly noticeable after a year. Also, the visibility of rhinoplasty scar depends on the expertise of the doctor in closing the incision and the healing process, which is different from patient to patient.
What type of anesthesia is used for rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty can be done with either general anesthesia or local anesthesia combined with sedation. General anesthesia is typically used in the majority of rhinoplasty cases unless you have certain conditions that make it risky for you to go under general anesthesia.
Is nasal packing necessary after rhinoplasty?
No, it’s not necessary, unless under certain circumstances, such as when the patient has excessive bleeding after the surgery or there is a risk of nosebleeds, for example in patients who have chronic epistaxis. Septoplasty patients who have unstable nasal fractures may also need to get tampons after surgery that are placed into the nostrils to fix the septum in place until it stabilizes.
Can I fly after rhinoplasty?
Most doctors recommend that you wait for at least 5 days before flying after rhinoplasty, and the more you wait, the better. This is because there are the risks of nosebleeds, increased swelling, and nausea when flying in the first few days following surgery.
How should I sleep after rhinoplasty?
It is recommended that you sleep on your back and use a few pillows to keep your head elevated. This is essential to reduce swelling in the surgical site. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach and sides because in the early days following your rhinoplasty your nose is fragile and should be carefully protected against external pressure. You can do this by placing other pillows or rolled-up blankets along your sides to prevent accidentally rolling over in your sleep.
What should I eat before rhinoplasty?
It is recommended that you follow a low-salt diet in the days leading up to the surgery to reduce swelling following the procedure. Also, you should stop blood-thinning medicines and supplements, smoking, and drinking alcohol two weeks before the surgery to lower the risk of bleeding during the surgery. In addition, if you are to have the surgery under general anesthesia, your doctor will probably ask you to not eat or drink anything from 8 to 10 hours before the procedure.
What should I eat after rhinoplasty?
We recommend that you have a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and then eat soft foods such as mashed potato, yogurt, soup, etc. in the first few days and avoid hard-to-chew foods that force you to bite or chew hard. You may want to follow a high-fiber diet including fresh fruits and vegetables, which helps your digestive system work smoothly. For speeding up the healing process, it is advised to eat foods rich in protein, vitamin C and zinc. You should also avoid salty foods because sodium causes fluid retention in the body, increasing swelling after surgery.
How long after my rhinoplasty can I have a revision rhinoplasty?
Most specialists recommend that you wait for at least one year after your nose job surgery and then consider a revision rhinoplasty. This is because the nose must fully heal and the swelling must completely disappear to minimize the risk of complications in a second operation, which takes around a year.
When can I go back to work after rhinoplasty?
The majority of patients can go back to work or school after a week or so, but if you prefer to return to work or social activities with fewer signs of surgery, you may want to wait longer until your swelling goes down to a level that’s people hardly notice.
Can I exercise after rhinoplasty?
Ligh walks are fine immediately after rhinoplasty but as for other strenuous activities, you should wait for at least 2-3 weeks. It is better to talk with your surgeon about when and how you can exercise after nose surgery. Some surgeons ask their patients to avoid intense physical activities such as running and heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks after their surgery.
Can I drive home after rhinoplasty?
As you will be still under the influence of aesthetic drugs for a while following the surgery, it is highly recommended that you refrain from driving at least 24 hours after rhinoplasty. Not only that, but you are also advised not to use public transportation alone or do activities that require high levels of alertness for 24-48 hours after your nose job surgery.
