Recovering from Rhinoplasty
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica
Many men and women considering rhinoplasty may be concerned about the recovery time. If you are considering this plastic surgery procedure, it’s important that you understand what to expect following surgery so you can be prepared.
We provide this page for basic information to help with the decision-making process. If you are a current patient and have concerns about your recovery, please call us at 310-205-EKIM(3546). If you are considering rhinoplasty and want to learn about the details of the procedure in person, please call or email us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eugene Kim today.
Right after Rhinoplasty Surgery
After your rhinoplasty surgery, you will be taken to our recovery area where we will monitor your recovery from anesthesia. When you are well enough, we will release you to go home with your driver, who should stay with you for the rest of the day. We will also review detailed postoperativeinstructions with you both, and give you a copy to take home. We encourage you to rest this first day, eat healthy, and definitely drink to keep hydrated. Remember to keep your head elevated during the early recovery period.
The First Week of Recovery
The first week of recovery from rhinoplasty may be easier than you expect. Discomfort from the procedure is typically minor and can be controlled with prescribed medications. You will wear a splint on the outside of your nose and may have internal splints as well to help encourage your nose to heal into the desired shape.
The extent of bruising from your rhinoplasty depends on your personal characteristics and the extent and type of reshaping performed. Some patients experience none at all. Others develop significant bruising which may even look like you have two black eyes. We will talk to you about what to expect in your case and how to combat bruising.
Weeks 2-6
At the end of your first week of recovery, we will remove the splints and examine your nose to see how your healing is progressing. Most people can return to work at this point, but some may need to take a few more days before they are ready. When we clear you to return to work, you can also wear concealing make-up to cover up any bruising that may remain.
Swelling will have diminished significantly since surgery, though there may still be some inside the nose and out. Taping of the nose may be performed at home to help improve swelling. In most cases, patients report that even now their nose looks better than it did before surgery.
You will have to avoid vigorous activity and any activity where there is a risk of nose injury for at least six weeks, depending on the progress of your healing.
Full Recovery and Final Rhinoplasty Results
Although your nose is essentially healed by six weeks after your rhinoplasty surgery, some swelling may persist. You may experience minor breathing problems, especially if you have allergies or catch a cold. You should also understand that the results you see at this point are not necessarily final.
Your rhinoplasty results will continue to change subtly for weeks and months after your surgery. In most cases, the final results are visible by six months after surgery, but some people find it takes up to a year before you see the quality of your results.
To learn more about rhinoplasty recovery or other details of the procedure, please call or email E. Kim Plastic Surgery today to schedule your rhinoplasty consultation.
