Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) Post-Operative Instructions
Instructions

• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow balanced diet.
• Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin unless approved by your surgeon.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 3 weeks as it causes fluid retention.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

 

Activities

• Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
• Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
• Return to work in 1-2 weeks.
• Avoid strenuous activities or any activity that increases your blood pressure for 2-3 weeks.
• Avoid body contact sports, hitting or rubbing your nose, and sunburn for 2 months.

 

Incision Care

• Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
• Always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
• Keep steri-strips on.
• Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
• Stay in bed with your head elevated (except for going to the bathroom) for the first day.
• Cold compresses will reduce swelling.
• Do not shampoo your hair until nose splint is removed, or ask for special instructions.
• Avoid blowing your nose for 1 week.
• Be gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.
• Do not use facial makeup on external incisions until advised by surgeon.
• Contact lenses can be worn as soon as you feel like it, but glasses cannot be worn until your nose is completely healed (approximately 2 months). After your nose splint is removed, tape your glasses to your forehead or prop them on your cheeks until completely healed.

 

What To Expect

• You may be up and about in 2 days, but it will be several weeks before you are entirely up to speed.
• Feeling depressed is normal.
• After surgery, particularly during the first 24 hours, your face will feel puffy.
• A small amount of bleeding is common during the first few days.
• A splint is applied immediately after surgery for 7 days. Nasal packs may also be used.
• Minimal postoperative pain.
• Your nose may ache and you may have a dull headache.
• Temporary swelling and bruising around eyes and nose will increase at first and peak after 2 or 3 days. Most swelling and bruising should disappear within 2 weeks. Some subtle swelling (noticeable only to you) will remain for several months.
• Healing is a slow and gradual process.
• Some numbness may be present around the operative areas.
• Black eyes and swollen nose and eyelids for 7-14 days.
• You may experience some discomfort with breathing.
• Swollen nasal tissues may cause nose to seem "stuffed up" for several weeks.

 

Appearance

• New nose looks better in 2-3 weeks and usually continues to improve for many months.
• Nasal tip drops to its permanent position in 3-6 months.
• Final results may not be apparent for a year or more.

 

Follow-Up Care

• If you have nasal packing, it will be removed after a few days.
• If nostrils are narrowed, sutures are removed in 3 days. All other sutures either dissolve or are removed within 14 days.
• Frequent follow-up visits should be scheduled.