Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of your nose. It can be done for cosmetic reasons or to correct breathing problems. Healing after rhinoplasty surgery can take some time, and there’s no guaranteed timeline for how long it will take you to recover from surgery. Any advice to hasten the healing process is greatly appreciated when you are recovering from surgery. You can give yourself the best chance for a smooth and speedy recovery by knowing what to watch out for. Besides, four things can slow down rhinoplasty healing that you must know to manage the wound effectively.
Participating In High Energy Consuming Activities
As if recovering from surgery isn’t hard enough, now you have to worry about getting back into shape. That’s the case for people who have undergone rhinoplasty. According to a recent study, those who return to strenuous physical activity before their nose has healed may increase their risk of developing complications. Thus, if you consider rhinoplasty surgery be aware that strenuous physical activity can slow down the healing process.
If you’re prone to being active, be sure not to do any strenuous exercises or sports while your nose is healing. While playing sports, throwing balls, or participating in group activities may seem like a great way to get some fun time with friends outside of class – they can end up hurting your nose if you’re not careful. Thus, it would be best if you avoided ball-throwing activities because of the risk that your nose could get hit during playtime and cause bruising after rhinoplasty. For the best results, take it easy for the first few weeks after surgery and avoid any activities that might cause undue stress on your nose.
Putting Excess Pressure on Your Nose
If you consider rhinoplasty surgery, you will want to do everything possible to ensure a speedy and successful recovery. A pressurized environment causes swelling and inflammation which may cause significant damage before its even detected by more basic checks like an X-ray. One way to help achieve this is by avoiding any pressure on your nose after the surgery is complete. While this may seem like common sense, many people do not realize the amount of pressure they are putting on their noses simply by going about their everyday life. You could be harming yourself by compromising the nose healing process when excessive pressure strains sensitive points located around the nose area.
Here are some tips on how to keep the pressure off your nose while it heals:
- Avoid wearing glasses since they can compromise the results of a rhinoplasty.
- You shouldn’t sleep on your stomach or side to minimize the risk of unconsciously putting pressure on your nose.
- Ensure your clothing doesn’t press against your face when inverting it for extended periods, which may distort your nose shape.
- Apply cold compresses to your nose for the first few days after surgery
- Sleep on your back with two pillows propping up your head
- Avoid blowing your nose or sneezing for the first week after surgery
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat soft foods to avoid putting pressure on your nose
- Gently cleanse your face using a mild soap and cool water
- Use moisturizer sparingly on the bridge of your nose
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can have negative consequences on almost every organ in the body, and the healing process after surgery is no exception. Rest assured that you’ll be able to heal quicker and more efficiently if circulation is optimal during your rhinoplasty recovery. Smoking can act as a barrier that delays healing by constricting blood vessels, affecting the speed at which new skin grows after surgery.
Smoking can slow down rhinoplasty healing because it impairs the body’s ability to heal wounds. Smokers are also at greater risk of developing complications after surgery. In particular, smokers who undergo rhinoplasty surgery may experience more prolonged healing and increased scarring. However, quitting smoking before having an operation like this done should help ensure fast recoveries without any complications down the line. Thus, if you’re planning to have rhinoplasty, it’s essential to stop smoking well before the procedure.
Tips for quitting smoking before Rhinoplasty surgery:
- Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit
- Find at least one person who will support and encourage you in your goal
- Get rid of anything that reminds you of smoking, such as ashtrays or lighters
- Replace cigarettes with healthy habits like chewing gum, drinking water, or writing down thoughts on paper
- Consider starting a low energy-intensive exercise routine such as meditation or reading to help reduce cravings for nicotine
Excessive Blowing of Nose
When you are recovering from surgery, minor things can make a difference in your healing speed. If you have had rhinoplasty surgery, blowing your nose may be something that you need to consider. Blowing your nose too hard or too often can slow down the healing process. Here’s what you need to know about how to blow your nose correctly after rhinoplasty surgery.
Using saline nasal sprays designed to relieve congestion can be better than just blowing out excess air from inside the nose since it won’t affect anything important such as breathing or cosmetic outcome. Furthermore, gently wipe out your nose with very soft wipes, preferable handkerchiefs made of pure cotton. Avoid wiping your nose with rough or fluffy materials that can cause bruising or trigger sneezing respectively so that no unnecessary pressure is put on the nose.
Conclusion
Some activities that can slow the healing process for rhinoplasty are excessive nose blowing, putting too much pressure on your nose when you sneeze or cough, and smoking. Similarly, avoid high-energy consuming activities such as running to give yourself enough rest so that you can fully recover from this type of procedure. Pick a low-key activity such as reading when possible to help make sure that healing goes smoothly and quickly. Remember that it’s essential to stay healthy before and after rhinoplasty to have a quick healing process and enjoy your new nose adjustment.