What to Expect After Your Rhinoplasty
Dr. Milgrim is a highly experienced rhinoplasty surgeon based in New Jersey. Over the years, he has performed rhinoplasty on countless numbers of individuals. As such, he is very familiar with the rhinoplasty recovery process. This page will help you understand what to expect after you undergo rhinoplasty with Dr. Milgrim in NJ.
After rhinoplasty surgery, one should expect some pain and discomfort. The surgery may entail modifications to bone and cartilage, repositioning of skin and tissues and the closing of any internal or external incisions made during the procedure. With any type of alteration to the face, it is common to experience swelling, bruising or sensitivity around the areas of operation. After a surgery like a rhinoplasty, bruising and swelling below and around the eyes is typical. But being that every person is different, they will also react differently to the procedure. So swelling and bruising will vary. No matter how you react to your rhinoplasty and what pain or discomfort it may bring, medications such as Tylenol may be used to help ease the soreness.
First 2 Days After Rhinoplasty
Day two of the recovery process, you may begin to see some of these symptoms worsen. Don’t be alarmed, it is typical for bruising and swelling to get worse before it gets better. After the next few days, you will see progress with the healing process and all pain and discomfort should be improving as well. If you experience a significant increase in pain after the first 72 hours, it is best to contact Dr. Milgrim’s office to let him know.
Since you would be having nasal surgery it is also commonplace to experience some bloody nasal discharge. This is common during the first 24 to 48 hours and will be absorbed by a small piece of gauze placed under the nose. This medical dressing should be changed often over a two-day span, to keep you and your surgical area clean.
First Week After Rhinoplasty
Often after rhinoplasty, tape and a plastic nasal dressing are placed outside of the nose and splints are placed within the nose. Both of these dressings are removed after 5 – 7 days post-operation. The splints placed within the nose may cause some discomfort and stuffiness, but once removed this issue will cease to exist.
Varying from patient to patient, you may experience some numbness and a decreased ability to smell and taste. Numbness may occur in the tip of your nose or roof of the mouth. These both happen due to the disruption of nerves surrounding these areas during surgery. Do not worry, this is only temporary and sensations will return after a few weeks.
When Will I See the Final Results of My Rhinoplasty?
Overall, the recovery after rhinoplasty takes patience and time. Swelling and bruising will appear, numbness may occur and discomfort is common. Within weeks you will see improvement with bruising, over a few months with the swelling and shape of your nose. By the end of one year, your final results will be present and your aesthetic and breathing abilities will be improved!
With Dr. Milgrim’s special techniques, quicker surgery time and advanced imaging technology, he makes the process a bit easier. He cares about his patients and their safety during and after surgery. Feel free to reach out to his Closter office for any questions and concerns before or after surgery. Dr. Milgrim and his friendly staff are happy to help. If you are interested in discussing rhinoplasty, schedule a consultation with Dr. Milgrim at his NJ office today.
