Rhinoplasty: Q&A

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Rhinoplasty Recovery & Facial Movement

I am currently four days post-op and I'm experiencing difficulty refraining from laughter and other emotional facial tics. While I'd consider these normal responses to stimuli, I was curious if this could be detrimental to my Rhinoplasty results, or if I'm just stricken with paranoia. I attempt to stifle movement, but I can still feel my nose straining against the splint. Could moderate movement of the nose jeopardize the surgical results?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by hb11

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (0)

Laughter

I'm so glad to hear you want to smile and laugh four days post op. Go ahead, the positive energy will help your healing. Rhinoplasty is about creating new structure and what has been created for you should be well able to stand up to smiling. If it can't then then the result will not turn out well even if you remain expressionless or neutral for months.

Michael L. Schwartz, MD

3 reviews

Fort Lauderdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Facial movements ok after Rhinoplasty

I've performed Rhinoplasty for over 20 years and IMHO the issue of not smiling, laughing and moving the face in a normal manner because it will somehow damage the nose after a Rhinoplasty...is an urban myth. The reality is normal movements will not affect the nose at all after a Rhinoplasty and I merely ask my Rhinoplasty patients to do these in normal moderation. Strenuous activity and direct forceful contact that needs to be avoided for 1 month following a Rhinoplasty... more

Faacial Movement 1 Week after Rhinoplasty

You ask about the effect of "moderate" facial movement 1 week after rhinoplasty; you will do fine. A good attitude with a smile on your face will always help the healing process.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

10 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

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Rhinoplasty Recovery & Facial Movement

I recommend to my patients to use their index finger and thumb gently pressing on the cheeks when they need to laugh. This will keep the nose stable during facial animation.

Upper Lip Movement & Rhinoplasty

It is not uncommon to have some difficulty moving the central part of your upper lip after rhinoplasty especially if you had significant caudal septal deviation correction as you often have to release the depressor septi muscles and/or reposition the caudal septal cartilage. The sensation and movement will all come back over the next 6-8 weeks.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Facial movement after rhinoplasty is not going to wreck your result (unless you overdo it)!

Too much of any good thing can reach a point where it is no longer good, whether it is chocolate cake, or facial animation after rhinoplasty! Normal activity such as eating, speaking, and smiling are entirely within the limits of acceptable activity after nose surgery, but excessive chewing, laughing, or facial grimacing would be extremes to avoid. Much more important, in my opinion, is that you should sleep with your head elevated above heart level for 2-3 weeks after this surgery to... more

You are OK

The splint , and the swelling, and the healing proteins inside, are your friends. Right now they are keeping things in place. Just use common sense and restrict your activities and excessive movement of your face and you will be fine. It is very hard to recover from surgery. Find a good movie and distract yourself--you will be healed soon.

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