Healing from Rhinoplasty

November 15, 2010
rhinoplasty beverly hills

When considering a rhinoplasty procedure, my Los Angeles patients typically ask about recovery. When discussing this subject, I often hear misconceptions about recovering from nose surgery, such as the length of time it takes to fully heal, or how long bandages or splints need to be worn. In actuality, healing from a rhinoplasty procedure is not as intense as some believe.

After Surgery

Rhinoplasty is typically performed in 1 to 3 hours, and patients can typically go home a few hours after their procedure. Most often, a split will be taped to the nose to help support its new shape, and should be worn for about a week after surgery. While there may be some bruising or swelling after this initial period, it will reduce significantly as tissues adjust to the new shape of the nose.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions that a bandage or splint needs to be worn for up to a year after the procedure to keep the nose in its proper position, and this could not be more false. While it is true that it may take up to a year for a patient’s nose to fully adjust to its new size or shape, a bandage or splint is unnecessary after the initial period after surgery. The best way to heal fast from a rhinoplasty is to follow the surgeon’s instructions carefully and religiously.

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