What is the timeline for African American rhinoplasty recovery?

African American rhinoplasty recovery usually takes a little longer than thin-skinned Caucasian rhinoplasty.  This is due to thicker sebaceous skin overlying the nose which takes much longer to heal than thin skin.  It is important to not be overweight and have an acceptable BMI before undergoing elective cosmetic surgery as an outpatient procedure.  Remember that surgery is done under general anesthesia.  Full healing on a rhinoplasty takes about one full year, but the majority of the improvement is evident within the first 3 to 6 months.

Recovery time  from African American Rhinoplasty can vary. Most patients are back into daily activities by the end of a week. Athletics can be resumed at six weeks. Patients give written permission for use of their pictures. Many do not feel comfortable allowing doctors to post them online, but may allow them to use them in their office. Your weight affects the proportion of the face, but not directly the nose. If you loose weight the nose will not get skinnier. Loosing weight may help to narrow the face and affect the impact of the nose on the face. often we will do facial liposuction to help set the shape of the face. Potential side effects of rhinoplasty are rare but include; bleeding, infection, asymetry, scarring, difficulty breathing,etc. While patients notice an improvement at one week when the splint is removed, it may take 12-18 months to realize the final outcome.

After rhinoplasty surgery, you will have a hard cast on the nose the first week followed by brown paper tape the second week. You will want to take it easy the first week, getting lots of rest and keeping the head elevated. You may gradually increase activity during week two. Any strenuous activities should be avoided for the first 4-5 weeks after your procedure. When browsing through the websites of prospective surgeons, you should be able to find some patients that had their tip refined. Check the before and after galleries. Seeing a patient that had a procedure that satisfies needs similar to yours is a great way to get the feel of a surgeon's work. In general, refining the nasal tip can yield a fantastic result when performed by a skilled surgeon. Your weight will not affect your nose. This is something that would have more of an effect on your chin and/or neck area. The side effects of a rhinoplasty may include:



1) Swelling


2) Bruising


3) Congestion


4) Bleeding


5) Mild pain



The final result generally takes a year to see. The majority of the swelling resolves in the first 3-6 months, and the remainder goes down over time. I hope this information helps, and good luck to you!