Plastic surgery restores form and function through reconstructive procedures, cosmetic enhancements, and body contouring.
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The first week involves wearing the external cast and internal splints. The patient will feel congested, as if they have a heavy head cold. This is due to internal swelling, not necessarily blockage. Mouth breathing can lead to a dry throat, so hydration and a humidifier are essential.
Activity is restricted to light walking. Bending over, lifting heavy objects, or straining is prohibited to prevent nosebleeds. The tip of the nose may look swollen and upturned; this is temporary due to the taping.
Cast removal is a milestone. The surgeon gently removes the external cast and slides out the internal silicone splints. This provides immediate relief from congestion. The nose will be swollen, and the skin may be oily or irritated from the tape.
Patients are warned that the nose they see on day 7 is not the final nose. It is swollen and “high.” The tip may look stiff. This is the beginning of the settling process. Sutures on the columella are also removed at this time.
For the first six weeks, the nasal bones are knitting back together. The nose is fragile. Patients cannot wear glasses that rest on the bridge. Contact lenses or a forehead-tape holder for glasses must be used.
Contact sports are strictly prohibited. Even a minor bump can shift the setting bones. The patient can return to light cardio at 2 weeks but must avoid bouncing or high-impact activities until the 6-week mark.
Swelling after rhinoplasty goes away in stages. By 2 weeks, most bruising is gone. By 3 months, about 80% of the swelling is gone and the nose looks good. The last bit of swelling, especially in the tip, can take a year or more to go away.
The tip stays swollen the longest because of how it drains and if the skin is thick. Patients may see their nose look more swollen in the morning or after eating salty foods. Being patient is the most important part of recovery.
Surgeons often instruct patients to tape their nose at night for several weeks after cast removal. This compresses the skin down onto the cartilage, reducing swelling and preventing scar tissue from forming in the “dead space.”
Specific massage exercises may also be prescribed to ensure the nasal bones settle symmetrically or to soften the tip. These must be done exactly as instructed to avoid shifting the structure.
The nasal skin is temporarily traumatized. It is highly susceptible to sunburn, which can cause prolonged swelling and permanent hyperpigmentation of the scar. High-SPF sunscreen and hats are mandatory for the first year.
Sebaceous glands may go into shock, causing oily skin or breakouts. Gentle cleansing and non-comedogenic moisturizers are recommended. Extractions or harsh facials on the nose should be avoided for at least 3 months.
For patients with thick skin or persistent swelling in the “supratip” area (just above the tip), the surgeon may perform steroid injections (Kenalog). These injections help dissolve scar tissue and thin the skin, allowing it to wrap tighter around the cartilage.
These are typically done starting at month 3 or 4. They are powerful tools for refining the definition in patients who are prone to scar formation.
Structural rhinoplasty is meant to last for life. Still, the nose will age over time. The cartilage may get a bit weaker and the skin may thin as years go by. The grafts placed during surgery help support the nose as it ages.
Keeping a steady weight and protecting the nose from injury helps keep the results. The nose will not grow back a hump will not return but the tip might droop a little with age if it is not well supported.
The nasal skin is temporarily traumatized. It is highly susceptible to sunburn, which can cause prolonged swelling and permanent hyperpigmentation of the scar. High-SPF sunscreen and hats are mandatory for the first year.
Sebaceous glands may go into shock, causing oily skin or breakouts. Gentle cleansing and non-comedogenic moisturizers are recommended. Extractions or harsh facials on the nose should be avoided for at least 3 months.
No nose is perfectly even, either before or after surgery. Small differences may show up as swelling goes down, and this is normal. The two sides of the face are almost never the same, and the nose sits between them.
If there is still a big difference after a year, a small revision or touch-up can be considered. Still, patients are encouraged to focus on overall balance and improvement, not perfect symmetry.
Patients should notice an improvement in breathing once the initial congestion clears. Maintenance involves managing allergies or sinus issues if they persist. Using saline rinses keeps the mucosa healthy.
If functional issues recur years later, they are often due to non-surgical factors, such as valve aging or new allergies, rather than failure of the surgery. Regular check-ups ensure the airway remains patent.
The tip of the nose will feel numb and stiff after surgery. This happens because the skin was lifted, which stretches the nerves. Feeling comes back slowly, usually over 6 to 12 months.
The stiffness comes from the structural grafts. A tip that is well supported will not feel as soft as a natural tip without support. This firmness helps keep the nose from drooping as time passes.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
You must not rest sunglasses directly on the bridge of your nose for at least 6 weeks. The weight can interfere with bone healing. You can tape the glasses to your forehead or use a “cheek rest” attachment to keep them from resting on your nose.
This is normal. Fluids pool in the head when you lie flat at night, causing the nose to swell. The swelling usually drains within a few hours of being upright. Sleeping with an extra pillow helps minimize this.
You should wait at least 12 months, or until the nose is fully healed, before getting a new piercing. The tissue is swollen and has reduced blood flow, making it more prone to infection and poor healing if pierced too soon.
A pollybeak is when the area above the tip becomes swollen and convex, resembling a parrot’s beak. It can be caused by scar tissue or residual cartilage. We prevent this with proper structural support, taping, and occasionally steroid injections.
Yes, the changes to the bone and cartilage are permanent. However, your nose will continue to age naturally. The skin may thin, and the tip may drop slightly over many decades, but the hump will not return, and the structural corrections remain.
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