After the nasal plastic surgery procedure, rhinoplasty recovery starts
. The incisions are made on the underside of the nostrils which make them unnoticeable when they have healed. In the meantime, healing can take a long duration depending on the care that the individual takes on the area.
First Week to Second Week
After rhinoplasty, the doctor sometimes places some packing in the nostrils to help support the septum, prevent bleeding and reduce swelling. Many patients who have experienced this complain of difficulty breathing and assimilating to the stuffing in the nose. It is very important to keep from touching the area frequently and roughly since this can dislodge or damage the changes. A corrective plastic surgery session will be needed if the damage to the initial one is extensive. Splints may be added to the nose to help with the support and framework of the area. This may be cumbersome to the patient but very helpful for best results. The usage of the packing may reach from 3 days to six days. On the first post operative visit, the doctor usually removes this and the splint if there is any.
Medication for pain and discomfort should be taken especially during the first week. Antibiotics will also be prescribed to prevent the development of an infection which can complicate things. The head should also be elevated while sleeping or resting to reduce swelling for the first several weeks after the plastic surgery. The patient can expect to have puffiness in the facial are closest to the surgical site. This will go away after several days or up to several weeks. A stuffy nose is consistent with a rhinoplasty because of the discharges and slight bleeding that may occur. Numbness in the lips and the flume may be experienced but this will decrease after the first week has gone by.
Swallowing some blood is natural during the procedure and the patient should not be surprised to vomit this some time during the first or second day after the operation. If the amount is little, it may pass through the stool and make it appear darker in color. Bruising may occur and lasts longer for the open technique (about six months or more) compared to the closed method, which is just about six weeks. After this particular form of plastic surgery, the patient can return to light daily activity during the first week, in the second week he or she can do more activities maybe return to work before the start of the third week.