Wondering what to keep in mind during your rhinoplasty recovery? This guide walks you through step-by-step tips to ensure a safe and comfortable healing process. From reducing swelling and proper nutrition to pain management and wound care, it covers everything you need to know. You’ll also discover how to spot “emergency” signals and act quickly. Dive in and learn how to achieve the best results from your rhinoplasty!
Initial Period: After surgery, you will have a protective external splint (cast) on your nose and an internal silicone splint or retainer. The internal splint/pad and external splint are usually removed within 4-7 days. Resting your head in a semi-sitting position (approximately 30-45°) above your torso the first night will reduce bleeding and swelling in the surgical area.
Intermittent cold compresses applied to the eye area for the first 72 hours will help alleviate swelling and bruising. Standing up and taking short walks as much as possible in the first hours after surgery will improve blood circulation and prevent clots from forming in the veins.
When you wake up, you will have a small gauze pad (“moustache pad”) secured with tape under your nostrils to collect any slightly bloody discharge. The pad should be replaced with a new one as it becomes bloody, but avoid pressing too hard on your nose.
Diet Recommendations
For the first 24 hours after surgery, it’s recommended to consume light foods that won’t strain your stomach. Choose easily digestible foods like jelly, soup, pudding, or yogurt. During this period, you can take sips of water or other liquids unless you’re feeling nauseous; sudden and large amounts can cause nausea.
Approximately 4 hours after surgery, you can gradually begin to consume clear liquids (unsalted broth, fruit juice, unsweetened tea). After 6-8 hours, if your stomach tolerates it, you can switch to soft, solid foods; foods like purees, yogurt, and boiled vegetables are good choices.
Take precautions against the risk of constipation: Reduced post-operative activity and pain medications can cause constipation. Therefore, it’s crucial to consume high-fiber foods (fresh vegetables, fruit, whole-grain bread) and drink enough water throughout the day. If necessary, you can use a mild laxative after consulting your doctor.
Eat a protein-rich diet to support wound healing and accelerate your body’s recovery. Aim for approximately 2 g/kg of protein daily. This supports muscle and tissue repair and helps reduce edema quickly. Good sources of protein include eggs, white and red meat, fish, milk and dairy products, legumes, and nuts.
In addition, avoiding high-fat and high-salt foods is beneficial to prevent edema. Limiting caffeine and carbonated beverages is also recommended; it’s especially important to eat a diet that calms your stomach during the first 48 hours.
Pain Management and Medications:
Post-rhinoplasty pain is usually mild to moderate; most patients rate it 0-4 out of 10 in the days following surgery. A feeling of nasal pressure, facial fullness, and a mild headache are common in the first 24 hours. This is completely normal and not a cause for concern.
It is important to take your prescribed painkillers regularly, at the dose and frequency recommended by your doctor. Regular use prevents sudden increases in pain and promotes a comfortable recovery. Avoid unnecessary or unauthorized use of other painkillers, as some medications can increase bleeding or affect kidney and liver health.
If you are taking regular blood-thinning medications, the anesthesia team will safely restart them after surgery. This will reduce the risk of clots and keep bleeding under control.
To prevent infection, it is recommended that you take prophylactic antibiotics after surgery. Continue taking the prescribed antibiotics until they are completed; skipping doses can increase the risk of infection and prolong the recovery process.
Additionally, avoid straining your face and nose area in the first days after surgery, avoid sneezing hard or applying pressure to the nose; this can both increase pain and lead to increased edema and bruising.
Dressing and Hygiene:
Following your rhinoplasty surgery, as long as your splint and inner packings are not removed until your follow-up appointment, no additional dressing is necessary. It’s important to keep the nasal area as clean and free from contact as possible during this time. You can shower within the first 48-72 hours after surgery, but make sure your nasal splint doesn’t get wet during this time. If possible, wash your face separately or wipe from the waist down instead of bathing. This will protect the suture line and reduce the risk of swelling and bruising.
The outer splint and inner packings will be removed during the post-operative check-up on the 5-7th day. If non-dissolvable stitches were used, they will also be removed during this check-up. After the check-up, the upper part of your nose will be supported with special tapes, as needed, and these tapes will generally remain in place for 7-10 days. These tapes support the nasal tissue and help reduce swelling.
Following the 14th day after your follow-up appointment, you will no longer need to use tapes unless otherwise instructed. From this point on, you can begin applying silicone tape or scar cream to the external cuts and incision lines of your nose, as recommended by your doctor. These treatments will help reduce the visibility of scars and support the healing process.
Additionally, avoid direct pressure on your nose, sneezing forcefully, or rubbing the area during the first weeks; these precautions will minimize the risk of swelling, bruising, and bleeding.
Bleeding and Swelling:
A slight bloody mucus discharge from the nose is completely normal in the first days following rhinoplasty surgery and is generally not a serious problem. Swelling and bruising may occur, particularly within the first 48 hours, around the nose and eyes; swelling peaks on the 2nd-3rd day and gradually subsides thereafter. For most patients, swelling and bruising significantly resolve within about 2 weeks, but mild swelling of the tip and nasal cavity can be fully resolved within a few months.
It is normal to experience difficulty breathing and nasal features due to nasal edema after surgery. Regularly use the recommended amount of ocean water or saline spray to clear any accumulated crust. Never blow your nose forcefully, as this can increase swelling or trigger bleeding.
Slight bleeding may occur, but if nose bleeding persists for more than 10 minutes, contact us immediately. Additionally, widespread headaches and facial pain may occur after the surgery; these are usually taken with prescription painkillers and resolve on their own.
However, sudden and intense stabbing growths, especially if they occur in a single area and the pain increases rapidly, may indicate an unexpected complication. In such cases, notify the relevant clinic or patient coordinator. Early intervention ensures rapid and safe recovery from potential deterioration.
Exercise and Daily Activities:
It is very important to avoid strenuous physical activity, bending, straining, and heavy lifting for the first two weeks after rhinoplasty surgery. During this period, rest as much as possible, except for walking around the house. This will reduce swelling and swelling in your nasal tissues and minimize the risk of bleeding.
From the second week onward, you can begin taking short, light walks as long as you feel comfortable and relaxed. However, you should avoid strenuous exercise such as running, weightlifting, aerobics, or intense cardio for 4-6 weeks. Protect your nose from impact; it is recommended to wait at least 3 months before engaging in contact sports.
If you wear glasses, be careful not to put direct pressure on the bridge of your nose for the first 4-6 weeks after surgery; otherwise, the shape of your nose may be negatively affected early on.
You may experience dizziness or a slight feeling of faintness when getting out of bed for the first time. To prevent this, sit on the edge of your bed for a few minutes, breathe deeply, and look straight ahead before slowly getting up.
Avoid sexual intercourse, heavy housework, and all strenuous activities for 2-4 weeks after surgery. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated, in a flat position, and using multiple pillows will reduce swelling.
Air travel is generally acceptable after the external splint is removed; however, be aware that pressure changes may temporarily increase swelling. Consulting your doctor before traveling is recommended to mitigate risks.
Scar Care:
In open rhinoplasty, a small incision will be made at the base of the nose (in the columella area). If additional incisions were made during the surgery, fine scars may also be visible in these areas. Initially, these scars may be red-pink and slightly raised; over time, their pinkish tone will fade and they will become a faint line. It usually takes 6-12 months for the scars to fully mature.
It is crucial to take certain precautions to improve the appearance of the scars during this period:
Sun protection: Avoid direct sunlight, especially for the first few months. Using sunscreen will prevent the scars from darkening; choose creams with SPF 30+ or higher.
Silicone-based products: Once the scar is completely covered (usually starting at week 2), applying silicone tape or silicone gel cream, as recommended by your doctor, will help the scars fade and smooth more quickly.
Gentle care: Do not massage or rub the scar area; apply only products recommended by your doctor.
With proper care, most patients find that scars are virtually unnoticeable one year after surgery. Regular follow-up and sun protection are the most effective methods for minimizing scar appearance.
Emergencies:
Some mild discomfort is expected during the normal recovery period after rhinoplasty (nose job); however, it is vital that you contact your doctor or healthcare team immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:
High fever or chills:
If your body temperature is 38.5°C or higher, especially if accompanied by severe chills, shivering, or chills, this may be a sign of infection.
Redness, tenderness, or warmth around the face or nose along with a fever increases the risk of infection and requires immediate evaluation.
Severe pain, vomiting, or changes in consciousness:
Sudden or progressively worsening intense pain that does not respond to prescription painkillers exceeds normal healing limits and may be a sign of complications.
If you experience frequent and unstoppable vomiting, nausea, dizziness, fainting, or confusion, this is a sign of serious stress or complications and requires immediate intervention.
Abnormalities in the surgical area:
Excessive swelling in or around the nose, especially if it is unilateral and hard, may be a sign of a hematoma.
Redness, increased tenderness, or warmth may be the first signs of infection.
Foul-smelling discharge, pus, or persistent bleeding from the nose or facial area exceeds normal healing limits and requires immediate evaluation.
If you notice any abnormalities, examine the area gently. If there is bleeding or discharge, gently compress it with a clean gauze pad and report it to your doctor immediately.