How long it should take until I can breathe through my nose again? 1 day post-op.

Question

I just had a rhinoplasty yesterday. Theres no packing in my nostrils. It just feels like I have A bad cold and can't breathe through my nose.

Nima Shemirani, MD · Answer

Dear Haylieplum,Thank you for your question. There is a lot of swelling one day post-op which can affect your breathing. This is completely normal and depending on the patient and the procedure, can take up to 6-8 weeks. Swelling will decrease with time but if you continue to have problems, please follow up with your surgeon. Best regards,Nima Shemirani

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear haylieplum,every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Victor Chung, MD · Answer

Recovering from rhinoplasty is a healing process. Part of that process is waiting for swelling to go down to breathe through your nose again. Swelling on the outside reflects swelling on the inside.
In the first 6-8 weeks the majority of swelling will go down. Over the next 6-9 months you'll experience a downward trending rollercoaster of swelling going up and down depending on your exposure to heat, sun, or salt. At one year, you're close to your final result; however, the nose is known to continue healing and refining by very small amounts for years after that. 
  
The swelling commonly goes down in an uneven way. First one side and then the other goes down, which may give the appearance of a crooked nose until the other side catches up. The tip is the last area to settle down. It's important to follow your surgeon's instructions and keep your follow-up appointments so your surgeon can track your progress toward a safe and happy outcome. Safety comes first.

How long it should take until I can breathe through my nose again? 1 day post-op.

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