Items recommended for smooth recovery following extensive rhinoplasty edits?

Question

I am considering a rhinoplasty to reduce my nose size in multiple dimensions - projection, alar base, nostril size, bridge refinement, bulbous tip fix, pushing nose further in. Given such extensive edits, please advise what items I will need to keep my recovery smooth and comfortable. please include medicines as well as comfort giving items.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Your surgeon should be the one to direct those things. Your surgeon may recommend taping the nose after the splint is removed to keep swelling down

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. While your surgeon will be the best source of information regarding rhinoplasty recovery care, several steps are generally taken to minimize postoperative discomfort. 
During rhinoplasty, multiple nerve blocks can be used to ensure the nose will be numb for a few hours after surgery. Your surgeon may provide you with short-term pain medications and/ or suggest over-the-counter relief. Many patients find broth and crackers comforting after surgery, though normal eating patterns can be expected the following day. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has expertise in rhinoplasty techniques. They will be able to inform you of what to expect before and after surgery and walk you through the recovery process.

Caner Kacmaz, MD · Answer

It’s very important to follow the instructions your doctor gives you after the surgery which will speed up  and keep you comfortable throughout your recovery. Same rule applies to pre surgery. I will be explaining what you should be doing before the surgery and process you will be going through.This is the key to a healthy operation resuts. 
- Before the operation your anesthesiologist will perform the appropriate tests for your surgery 
- Having a flu or cold will result in postponing the surgery. During your anesthesia check up please share any details about your health with your doctor. What you may think is unimportant may be a vital detail for your assessment 
-You will need to let your doctor know the prescription drugs you are currently using. 
-Please don’t take blood thinning drugs such as aspirin and/or foods and vitamin supplements 7 days prior to your surgery 
-Herbal Tea may cause blood thinning which will complicate the surgery. Discontinue drinking herbal tea one week prior to your surgery.
- Menstrual cycle is not a cause for concern. Your doctor will determine after consulting with the anesthesiologist 
-Discontinue smoking cigarettes as it delays the healing process. Patients usually don’t feel any pain after the surgery. We will provide you with pain medication if necessary.
-You may feel your nose is clogged up to 2 days after the surgery. This may cause dryness of the throat as you are using your mouth to breath through. To ease the discomfort, please drink plenty of fluids.
- Do not take any pain killers without consulting your doctor. We recommend you taking a warm shower and get plenty of sleep the night before your surgery 
- Please do not put any make up, nail polish or hair spray/ gel on before your surgery  
-If you had a rhinoplasty surgery before please let your doctor know
-Some patients share minimal information with the doctor after having a prior surgery assuming 9-12 months doesn’t require detailed explanation. You must share all the details of your previous surgeries
- Your doctor will place a cast on your nose after the surgery which will remain 5 days. Do not take your cast off under any circumstances 
- You may experience swelling and bruising under your eyes after your surgery. These will subside after 3-4 days
-After the surgery you may experience swelling around your nose because of fluid retention. This will subside after 6 months. It will go away completely after 12 months. This swelling will be only recognizable to you, your doctor and people who know about your surgery. 
-Just like any surgery, rhinoplasty surgery requires a signed consent form that explains what was discussed with your doctor during consultation and with the anesthesiologist during the check up in a written statement. This form is required for every hospital and a doctor . It must be signed by the patient.
-We recommend you choose a person with positive approach to life to be your companion for your hospital stay.
I hope this helps putting your mind at ease. Best wishes

Robert Ciardullo, MD · Answer

Recovery after rhinoplasty: The changes you mentioned are a standard part of most routine rhinoplasties. Most people overestimate the difficulty of recovery. The majority of patients I have done over the past several years have indicated that if they knew what the recovery was like after rhinoplasty they would have worry less about it prior to the surgery. If you read patient reviews you will see that nine out of 10 patients also say that they did not even use the pain medication that was prescribed but took either nothing or just Tylenol. There’s not a lot of magic beyond common sense. Take it easy for a few weeks stay elevated for the first week or so, cold compresses for the first 48 hours on and off, take an antibiotic if prescribed, avoid leaning forward and lifting heavy objects, and don’t begin working out or contact sports for approximately a month. Major contributors to a smooth recovery include the intravenous injection of Decadron at the beginning of surgery, gentle handling of tissue by the surgeon, and an experienced surgeon who gets things done expeditiously without doing undoing and redoing them. Minor additional things that may help include taking some vitamin C complex with bioflavonoids to promote healing. Some people believe in taking arnica before surgery to reduce bruising. It may help a little, but is not a major factor. people who get cold sores should consider taking Valtrex or another antiviral for a few days before and a few days after to avoid a break out. Some people get nauseated from narcotics so some sublingual Zofran should be available which is very effective at eliminating nausea. Another possible effect of narcotic pain meds if taken, is constipation so A stool softener such as Colace should be considered if one is taking more than just a few doses of the narcotic pain med. Some surgeons believe in taping the nose after removal of the cast while others believe that it has no long-term benefit . This can be discussed with your surgeon. There are different regimens prescribed by different surgeons. None has any magic and nothing beats good common sense in avoiding stressing, straining, and trauma in the early postop. Period. keeping follow up appointments is also helpful in obtaining the best final outcome and avoiding difficulties. I have found over the years that too many patients never return for follow up after removal of the cast. In some cases this is because they have traveled a great distance and are satisfied with the result, and therefore see no need to return. but, when possible, follow up appointments are very important, and should be kept.

Cagil Meric Erenoglu, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question.
Arnica gel helps with bruisings pass faster.Bromelain including pills (like Enfla-C) helps with edema and faster healing.A C-shaped pillow will fix your head in upright position after surgery.Low physical activity. We don't want increased blood pressure and heart rate after surgery.Gel ice-packs help with controlled cooling for first 2 days.

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