I had my rhinoplasty a week and two days ago. I literally cannot sleep unless I'm on my side. I'm 99% sure I'm not touching my nose against anything in my sleep I have been sleeping on my sides on and off for the past 5 days. Will this alter my final results of my procedure?
June 6, 2016
Answer: Sleeping after rhinoplasty To be honest with you, its best if you sleep on your back with your head elevated. Sleeping on your side will increase swelling on the dependent side, and as swelling goes down, it will be noticeable that one side is more swollen than the other. The other possible outcome is pressure and displacement of the nasal bones. They take a few weeks to heal, so you may want to be careful. I would ask your surgeon as they know what maneuvers were performed during your rhinoplasty and will be able to help guide you through the process. I find often that with patients like yourself who have trouble sleeping on their sides (or even worse, like to sleep face down!), building a little incline from the lower back up to your head with pillows (much like the incline of a beach chair) works better at keeping them straight than just a few pillows behind your head. Ask your surgeon if they have any suggestions for you. Congrats on your recent surgery by the way. I hope you get the results you wanted.
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June 6, 2016
Answer: Sleeping after rhinoplasty To be honest with you, its best if you sleep on your back with your head elevated. Sleeping on your side will increase swelling on the dependent side, and as swelling goes down, it will be noticeable that one side is more swollen than the other. The other possible outcome is pressure and displacement of the nasal bones. They take a few weeks to heal, so you may want to be careful. I would ask your surgeon as they know what maneuvers were performed during your rhinoplasty and will be able to help guide you through the process. I find often that with patients like yourself who have trouble sleeping on their sides (or even worse, like to sleep face down!), building a little incline from the lower back up to your head with pillows (much like the incline of a beach chair) works better at keeping them straight than just a few pillows behind your head. Ask your surgeon if they have any suggestions for you. Congrats on your recent surgery by the way. I hope you get the results you wanted.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 15, 2020
Answer: Sleeping with your head elevated after rhinoplasty The reason patients are told to sleep on a few pillows after rhinoplasty is to help with the swelling.With your head elevated, the swelling in the nose can follow gravity and drain to the body. If you sleep on your side, the swelling drains from one side and collects in the other, creating an uneven appearance that may take a long time to resolve. In addition, sleeping on your side can put harmful pressure on the nose. As with any post-operative instructions, sleep position is something to improve your chances for a better outcome and to avoid potential problems.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 15, 2020
Answer: Sleeping with your head elevated after rhinoplasty The reason patients are told to sleep on a few pillows after rhinoplasty is to help with the swelling.With your head elevated, the swelling in the nose can follow gravity and drain to the body. If you sleep on your side, the swelling drains from one side and collects in the other, creating an uneven appearance that may take a long time to resolve. In addition, sleeping on your side can put harmful pressure on the nose. As with any post-operative instructions, sleep position is something to improve your chances for a better outcome and to avoid potential problems.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful