How easy is it to mess up the outcome of your Rhinoplasty?

While your nose is fragile while it’s healing, it’s highly unlikely that you did any damage by sneezing, smiling, or coughing. I recommend that my patients sleep on their back for the first couple of weeks after surgery to avoid bumping it in their sleep, but again, since you are not experiencing any pain, it doesn’t sound like you altered your result. If you are concerned, I recommend scheduling a follow up visit with your surgeon so that they can examine your nose in person and hopefully put your mind at ease. Good luck!

In my experienced, smiling and sneezing and coughing will not change a rhinoplasty result, but if you bump and impact it hard enough you can.  Be sure to discuss with your own surgeon about how this applies to you, and whether they have any special concerns in your case.

Thank you for your question.It is highly unlikely that a sneeze/cough/smile will affect the shape of your nose.  Lightly bumping your nose after the procedure will likely not affect it, either.  Hitting your nose hard, or a forceful blowing of the nose may move the bones or sutures, but you would typically notice this (pain, swelling, bleeding).What you have experienced is what many patients experience postoperatively, and the vast majority do not have any trouble.  Enjoy your new nose!

Thank you for your question.  Sneezing and coughing are exceedingly unlikely to cause changes to the shape of your nose.  Sneezing and coughing, like strenuous activity can raise your blood pressure which in turn can increase the risk that you get a nose bleed after surgery.  Lightly bumping your nose is also unlikely to shift things, but a harder blow can move the nasal bones or tear sutures.  Usually if this were to occur, you would experience significant pain and swelling afterwards.  You wouldn't notice the swelling while the splint is on.  Smiling should not affect the results.  All the best!

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on having a rhinoplasty.  While the splint is on there is very little one can do to damage the result. It's normal to be nervous, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Best wishes to you.

Your
surgeon is the best doctor to determine if you’ve “messed up the outcome of
your Rhinoplasty”. I would suggest you
discuss these concerns with your doctor at your appointment today. I don’t imagine that what you’ve described
has done any damage although it is possible because surgical sites are not
strong this early after Rhinoplasty. It
is important to follow your surgeon’s advice to get the best surgical result.

Thank you for your question.  While I doubt that you have done any damage to your rhinoplasty by sneezing, coughing or smiling, if you bumped your nose hard enough there is a small chance you may have done some type of damage.  Chances are you are fine, however, you should follow up with your surgeon to be sure.  Best of luck,Dr. Peter Newen

Dear cheerleaderchibi, While the splint is still on your nose I would not be over concerned with the slight bumps in the night. Once your splint is removed you will want to take further caution in protecting your nose over the next few weeks. Sneezing, coughing and smiling are not concerns for causing problems with the outcome of your nose. In fact most patients are so happy after rhinoplasty they find themselves smiling much more often! I hope you enjoy your new nose and remember to protect your investment! Best regards, michael V. Elam, M.D.