Rhinoplasty is the third most-performed plastic surgery in the US. Through this surgical procedure, plastic surgeons can change the shape and size of your nose, achieving dramatic facial transformations.
Like any other surgical intervention, rhinoplasty involves some downtime. Your body needs time to heal after the procedure, so if you are considering getting a nose job, you must know the post-op indications in advance. After rhinoplasty, you must avoid strenuous activity, blowing your nose, direct exposure to the sun, sexual activity, taking a shower, wearing glasses, drinking alcohol, smoking, touching your nose, and smoking. Continue reading to see why it’s best to avoid these activities.
Strenuous Activities After Rhinoplasty
Strenuous exercise should be avoided by all means during rhinoplasty recovery. You must steer clear of activities like weightlifting and cardio for at least three weeks to prevent severe swelling and post-op complications. And remember, some activities like soccer, basketball, or contact sports should be suspended even longer, so make sure you talk with your surgeon about your hobbies and free time activities!
Blowing Your Nose After Rhinoplasty
Sniffing or blowing your nose can interfere with the proper healing of the wounds and cause bleeding, so it is vital to stay strong and healthy after surgery. Although we understand that nobody gets sick on purpose, we ask our patients to be extra careful and take measures like washing their hands regularly and using hand sanitizer to avoid allergies, colds, and the flu.
Direct Exposure to the Sun After Rhinoplasty
Sunlight does not affect the surgery results, but it does leave marks on your skin – especially when scar tissue is exposed. We advise avoiding sun exposure if you want to recover your spotless skin after surgery. If you need to be under the sun for any reason, just make sure you wear a big hat and sunscreen.
Sexual Activity After Rhinoplasty
It is a fact that most people consider sexual intercourse a physical activity. However, we want to clarify that you should also try to avoid being intimate as much as possible until you fully recover from surgery.
Taking a Shower After Rhinoplasty
After surgery, you’ll need to wear a splint and bandages that cover your nose for a few days. These bandages (and the nose itself) cannot get wet, so taking a shower can be risky. We recommend our patients take baths to minimize moisture near the surgical area.
Wearing Glasses After Rhinoplasty
If you wear glasses in your everyday life, you might want to consider using contact lenses for some time. The nose cartilage and soft tissues are very delicate after surgery, and glasses can leave indents when they rest on the nose bridge.
Drinking Alcohol or Smoking After Rhinoplasty
Alcohol and tobacco are restricted after any type of surgical procedure to avoid post-op complications, and rhinoplasties are no exception.
Touching Your Nose After Rhinoplasty
It’s only natural to be curious about how your nose looks and feels after surgery. However, you need to keep your fingers away during the healing process. It’s not convenient at all to poke, push, or touch your nose, as this can affect the final results of your rhinoplasty.
Wearing Make-Up After Rhinoplasty
Although you might be tempted to cover up the scars and bruises around your nose and eyes as soon as possible, wearing make-up is not a good idea. Powders, concealers, and primers can trigger skin complications, so we recommend keeping them in the make-up bag until your skin is correctly healed.
Want the Best Rhinoplasty Recovery? Partner with An Expert!
Dr. Guy is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with renowned expertise in rhinoplasty surgery. He and his team are committed to going the extra mile to ensure patients are comfortable after surgery. Dr. Guy will be fully available if a patient has any issues and will call once daily after the procedure. Our team will also provide a book that fully outlines the rhinoplasty procedure and also includes a comprehensive list of instructions for the best postoperative care.
If you would like to learn more about rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty at Dr. Guy Facial Plastic Surgery, we invite you to reach out to our friendly staff today!