Can I Chew Gum After Rhinoplasty?

Chewing gum in the initial days after a nose job
can cause unnecessary strain on your recovering nose. Though it may seem that
the range of motion involved in chewing gum is relatively limited, the
continuous motion can create tension. In my professional opinion, it is best to
play it safe and to avoid this altogether at least in the beginning stages of
your recovery period. 

Dear rhinoplasty patient from Canada,

Five weeks after rhinoplasty, Chewing gum, laughing and normal facial activity will not influence the long term healing results. I do not see how it would be different from eating any other food since your surgery. Good luck and good healing

I find the main reason to avoid chewing gum initially after surgery is the tension that the chewing motion will produce on your columellar incision (presuming you had an open approach performed). Excissive tension could cause the scar to widen.

If you notice that it's tight when you chew I would wait a little longer, although I would suspect that by 5 weeks after surgery this won't be an issue.

Other maneuvers can be done to the tip that may be affecting by chewing. I would just check with your surgeon to make sure it's okay in your specific case.

Hi Gum Chewer,

That depends whether you could chew gum before your rhinoplasty.  Of course you can chew all you want 5 weeks after your rhinoplasty, just chew quietly so as to not disturb others, and by all means don't blow any bubbles.  Enjoy your new nose.

Dr. P

In most cases, I would permit my patients to chew gum within a few days of surgery unless an intra-oral approach for the lateral osteotomies was utilized. This can tremendously help the dry mouth that patients experience from mouth breathing after the surgery.

Depending on whether osteotomies were performed, generally it is ok to chew gum two weeks after rhinoplasty  surgery.

I do not see any reason why you can not chew gum five weeks after rhinoplasty surgery unless it is painful for you to do so.

At 5 weeks, you are pretty much healed.  It is no problem chewing gum.  I'd still be careful not to bump your nose or put any pressure on it but chewing is fine.

Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.

Regarding: "Can I Chew Gum After Rhinoplasty? can i chew gum 5 weeks after rhinoplasty?"

Personal question: What did you eat for the past month? Of course it is safe to eat after Rhinoplasty.

Even if your bones had to be broken to narrow the nose, these bones are NOT attached to the chewing muscles and chewing food or gum will not interfere with your healing. Lastly, at 5 weeks there has been significant healing of the bones in their new locations and unless you sustained a real blow to the nose, it is not at danger from regular activities.

Dr. Peter Aldea

If  you could chew gum before your surgery, you can chew gum 5 weeks after rhinoplasty. I normally advise patients to avoid hard foods for about a week after their rhinoplasty.