If you’re considering a nose job seemingly to improve your physical appearance, you must proceed with caution. Despite the benefits of appearance-enhancing procedures, they are many risks. To make the healing process smooth and safe for yourself, here are a few tips on healing properly after a nose job.
Allow Plenty of Time for Recovery
Nose jobs can take 4-6 weeks to recover from completely, so it’s best if you give yourself ample time. You might consider taking a week off from work or school to make sure you don’t rush the recovery process.
Choose A Surgeon Who Specializes in Nose Jobs
Though all surgeons can perform nose jobs, not all of them have the best experience with performing them. For optimum healing and a more natural look, it’s best if you choose a surgeon that has done many nose jobs before.
Avoid Alcohol and Cigarettes’
Though a little drink or two can serve as an appetite suppressant, you’re better off abstaining from smoking and alcohol. Alcohol is one of the most common causes of nose bleeding, and it can also lead to complications since it can thin the blood vessels, making them more prone to infection. Smoking is also a contributing factor to nose bleeding, so it’s best if you avoid smoking cigarettes during your recovery procedure.
Keep an Eye On the Nose
Achieving a perfect and natural-looking nose is not an overnight process. It would help if you were very careful about keeping the nose healing properly. It’s important to wear the nose in all different positions so that you can see how it looks from every angle and get a better understanding of the healing process.
Avoid Sleeping On the Back
Since a nose is composed of cartilage, you should avoid sleeping on the back to avoid compressing the nose.
Use A Nasal Pillow
The best way to keep the nose in position is by using a nasal pillow which provides the support needed for it to heal properly. It will also protect your face from being hurt by it when you sleep.
Take Oral Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Since nasal bleeding is a common issue after the procedure, it’s best to take painkillers to ease any discomfort. You can also consider taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pills or other medicine that will help ease any swelling.
Keep Your Head Elevated
Though a nose job isn’t as painful as other procedures, it’s still important to keep your head elevated if you’re experiencing bleeding or any pain.
Maintain Regular Hygiene
You must maintain proper hygiene after the surgery to avoid infections and complications. Make sure to wash your nose regularly with warm water and mild soap. You can also use a nasal saline spray to help prevent infection.
Avoid Stress
Though it’s impossible to avoid stress completely, you’re better off not going through any stressful situations after the procedure. It is because undergoing stressful situations can make your blood pressure go up, which can cause bleeding or even lead to other complications.
Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself
You might have high expectations of yourself after undergoing a nose job, but you mustn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. Although nose jobs can greatly improve your appearance and enhance your confidence, they might also cause you to feel a little bit self-conscious because you’ll feel exposed. Be aware that this is a normal reaction, and everything will go back to the way they were once you heal completely.
Don’t Wear a Nose Bandage or Use Too Much Force
The best thing you can do after undergoing a nose job is to avoid wearing a nose bandage and avoid forcing the nose into position. It’s also important that you refrain from applying too much pressure to the nose to prevent unnecessary damage.
Avoid Nasal Steroids
Though nasal steroids help with healing and minimizing any pain, it’s best if you don’t use them since they have side effects that can cause other complications, including increased risk of cancer and stroke.
Don’t Touch the Nose Too Much
The nose is very sensitive after the procedure, so it’s best if you don’t touch it or play around with it to prevent any unnecessary abrasions.
Bathe Your Nose with Saltwater
Saltwater helps reduce any swelling and also helps restore the natural color of your nose. Soak a cotton ball in salt water and rub it gently on the nose to remove dead skin cells and improve healing.
Avoid Using a Fan
Though it helps improve healing, fanning the nose too much can damage the new tissue and cause more complications.
Take Your Time to Relax
Though you might have the temptation to rush through the recovery process, it’s best if you allow yourself plenty of time for recovery. Taking some time off from work or school can help you calm down from the stress of healing and make the process go smoother.
Keep Your Weight Stable
Staying fit helps reduce complications after the procedure and improve your overall appearance.
Consult A Doctor About Antibiotic Fillers
Though antibiotic injections are commonly in use for many plastic surgery procedures by the facial plastic surgeon, you must seek advice from a doctor if you’re allergic or sensitive to antibiotics or any other medication used to treat bleeding after the nose job.
Keep Your Tongue Clean
A little bit of antibiotic agent can be mixed with water and gargled to help prevent infection as well as speed up healing.
Increase Your Protein Intake
You might want to increase protein intake during recovery to speed up the healing process.
Wear A Surgical Mask
You should avoid any form of public exposure while you’re healing since it’s likely that you’ll have blood and discharge coming out of your nose, which can be discomforting for others.
Avoid Wearing Makeup
Though you might have the temptation to wear makeup once the stitches come out, it’s important that you refrain from doing so because it can cause infections and other skin issues that might not be noticeable at first but can lead to complications later on.
Conclusion
Nose jobs can greatly change the way you look and help you feel more confident about yourself. They can also make your nose look better proportioned to other facial features, which greatly improve your overall appearance. However, it’s important to understand that a nose job isn’t a fast fix for any physical or psychological issue since it takes time for your body to heal completely.