How to Recover From a Nose Job

A nose job--also known as rhinoplasty--is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures. It can be used to make your nose smaller or larger, alter its shape or narrow its span. It can also be used to tweak the angle separating your nose and your upper lip. Birth defects, injuries and breathing difficulties may also be addressed with a nose job.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Recover From a Nose Job

1. Know what to expect with regard to bruising. If your nasal bones weren't broken during your surgery, you'll likely see improvement in bruising in 3 to 7 days. In cases in which the nasal bones are broken, it takes 7 to 14 days for bruising to improve.
2. Understand what to expect with regard to swelling. In a closed rhinoplasty, swelling improves in 1 to 6 weeks. In an open rhinoplasty, it can take 1 to 6 months for swelling to diminish.
3. Take at least a week off from work to recover from your nose job. However, keep in mind that while you may feel strong enough to work in a week, your appearance may dictate that you stay home a while longer until you're fully presentable.
4. Be patient, since it takes a while for swelling to subside in a way that reveals the final results of your nose job. For some, this takes as little as 3 months, and for others, it takes as long as 2 years. For most, final results are visible after 6 months.
5. Keep your head up--literally. Help yourself recover by sleeping with your head elevated in the nights following your nose job surgery. This minimizes swelling by helping you avoid accumulation of fluids in the nasal region.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect moderate discomfort following your nose job. You'll likely be on prescription pain medication for 4 to 10 days.
• Beforehand, find out from your doctor whether your rhinoplasty will be open or closed. In open rhinoplasty, external incisions are made during surgery. In a closed rhinoplasty, the work is done within the nose, with no external incisions. The technique used plays a part in your recovery time.
• Post-surgery, you may notice small burst blood vessels, which reveal themselves as small red spots on the surface of your skin. These are usually quite insignificant, but understand that in some cases, they are permanent.
• From time to time, a second nose job is required to address minor deformities left by surgery. This is not necessarily a reflection of the surgeon's skill--it's been known to happen in procedures performed by even the most talented surgeons. Usually, this problem can be corrected with minor surgery.