Dr. Aminpour has performed thousands of rhinoplasty procedures both for cosmetic and functional purposes. His delicate handling of nasal tissue combined with his skill in gently reshaping bone causes as little trauma as possible to the structure. This in turn eases the process of recovery and is why Dr. Aminpour is praised by his patients as providing among the best rhinoplasty Los Angeles patients could hope for.
Preparing for rhinoplasty recovery
One of the key reasons that Dr. Aminpour’s patients enjoy a relatively smooth recovery is that they are well informed and well prepared. He allows ample time for his patients to ask questions and augments this time by providing them with information concerning recovery strategies.
Rhinoplasty recovery stages
While it can take up to a year to achieve full healing internally, recovery is accomplished in stages:
- Preparations prior to surgery
- First 2 weeks
- First 2 months
- Getting back to normal
Preparing for rhinoplasty
Prior to your surgery, you will meet with Dr. Aminpour to discuss the procedure and what to expect. This is a good time to bring a list of questions so that you don’t forget to ask anything. Dr. Aminpour will talk to you about avoiding certain medications and herbal remedies that may cause complications in the healing process. He will also ask you to stop smoking for a few weeks prior to and following rhinoplasty surgery. This is very important as nicotine interferes with blood flow and can create serious complications in healing. If this is going to be a significant problem let him know so that he can offer some suggestions on making this easier.
Get all of your routine household tasks done such as cleaning, grocery shopping, paying bills, banking etc., so that you can concentrate on recovering for the first 2 weeks. Although rhinoplasty doesn’t cause a problem with chewing, it is a good idea to stock up on soft foods such as protein drinks. The act of chewing can be difficult especially for the first 3 or 4 days when the greatest amount of swelling and congestion will be present.
Prepare your recovery area. Have the items you will be using close to hand such as the TV remote, books, ice packs, your cell phone and any other items you might need. You will need to sleep with your head slightly elevated above the level of your heart and a recliner works very well for this purpose. Otherwise you can use a few pillows under your shoulders and head to achieve a slight overall incline.
If you have small children, arrange for help for at least for the first week to avoid having to bend over to care for them. Also, if you have pets, arrange care for them as well and be careful that they don’t jump up on you and bump your nose.
The first 2 weeks
You will be given an anesthetic for the surgery and will wake up in the recovery room with a splint or cast on your nose if bone work was done. Additionally there will be splints inside the nose to stabilize the structure so that it heals correctly. You will have a gauze pad under your nose to absorb blood and fluid that will drain for the first few days.
Once you are fully awake and able to leave, you can be driven home to recover. There will be swelling and some pain but most patients are surprised at how little pain there is. The bigger challenge is the swelling that occurs as it causes nasal congestion, similar to that caused by a bad head cold. Using gel cool packs as instructed for the first 3 days will greatly help with swelling. These first 2 to 3 days are the most challenging in terms of congestion, sleeping and performing simple tasks.
You will be given instructions for changing the gauze pad under your nose, and also when to return for your first postoperative visit. Usually the nasal splints and cast (if you have one) are removed 5 to 7 days following surgery. Recovery is much more comfortable after this point according to most patients. There may be bruising under the eyes if Dr. Aminpour had to reshape bone but this usually clears up within a week to 10 days.
You will be given written instructions before you leave outlining things to do and things to avoid. One of the more important aspects of rhinoplasty recovery is to avoid anything that will raise your blood pressure for the first few weeks. Things like running up stairs, lifting heavy objects and exercising must be avoided until the initial stages of recovery have been accomplished. The closer you are able to follow these instructions, the smoother your recovery will be.
By the end of the first 2 weeks, much of the swelling will be gone and you will likely feel confident about returning to work or meeting your friends. You can use makeup to cover any remaining discoloration under your eyes.
The first two months
After the initial recovery period has passed, your nose will continue to heal internally which will cause changes. Swelling may increase and decrease during this time, although this will be subtle.
You may have numbness at the tip of your nose if you had work done in this location as well as around your upper lip. This will gradually resolve over the next few months.
Most of the swelling will be gone by the 6th week following surgery and you will be able to see your results more clearly. If you have a major event such as a wedding or a reunion, planning surgery along this timeline will ensure you are fully ready for the occasion.
You will be able to resume exercising during this time, although contact and team sports should be avoided so that you do not expose your nose to trauma which could require revision rhinoplasty to repair the damage.
Getting your life back to normal
You will see the final results of your surgery between 9 and 12 months later. While 80% of the swelling will be gone around the 6 week mark, the nose will continue to adjust for many months.
After the nose is completely healed you can resume sports activities. You may have been asked to avoid swimming, diving and other activities. Once you are cleared by Dr. Aminpour, you will be able to resume all of these activities without fear of damaging your nose.
Remember it takes up to a year for all internal structures to fully heal, so while you may look completely healed on the outside, the internal structure may need many more months of protection to ensure a stellar result.
If at any time during rhinoplasty recovery you have questions or concerns, Dr. Aminpour and his staff are available to support you throughout this period. Never hesitate to contact us thinking that your question is too trivial. We enjoy staying in contact with our patients throughout their journey.
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