Rhinoplasty, otherwise known as a nose job, is an incredibly versatile procedure. At Kadz Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA, Dr. Bruce Kadz finds that people usually seek this procedure to improve cosmetic problems, like asymmetry or a displeasing size or shape. It is also common for people to come to us with concerns about the bridge of their nose and breathing problems. Today, we’re taking a closer look at how long the results of this procedure last and much more.
Is Rhinoplasty Permanent?
Rhinoplasty is considered permanent, but in rare cases, a follow-up procedure is necessary. For example, you may need to come in for a follow-up procedure if your nose is injured, making your septum crooked and disrupting your breathing. As another example, there is a chance that you will need to come in again to treat nasolabial folds. However, depending on the nature of your nasolabial folds, you may just need Juvederm or Botox injections.
Who Is a Good Nose Job Candidate?
Generally, you can expect to be considered a good candidate for a nose job if you are concerned about the appearance or functionality of your nose and you are relatively healthy. To ensure this procedure will be safe for you, we need to discuss your health in depth. First, you should be prepared to talk about the drugs and supplements you are currently taking.
If you are on blood-thinners, you will need to stop taking them for 72 hours prior to surgery. There are also a number of other preparation and aftercare guidelines you will need to follow to be considered a good fit for surgery. Remember to talk to your primary care physician before discontinuing the use of any drugs or supplements you currently take daily. If your doctor tells you it’s not safe to stop taking your medications, you may be a poor candidate.
Who Is a Poor Rhinoplasty Candidate?
Even if you are concerned about the appearance or functionality of your nose, you may be considered a poor fit for this procedure if you suffer from certain medical conditions. For example, you will need to reschedule your procedure if you are suffering from an acute illness, like a viral infection, that may affect your procedure or recovery. You also will not qualify for this procedure if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Preparation Steps Will I Need To Take?
We will advise you on all of the preparation steps you will need to take during your initial consultation. One of the most important preparation steps to take is to discontinue the use of any drugs or supplements that can affect blood clotting, like NSAIDs, MAOIs, or vitamin E supplements. Fatty acid supplements, garlic supplements, and Ginkgo biloba supplements should be avoided for the same reason.
It is also very important that you do not consume alcohol or tobacco prior to your procedure. This is because you need to have normal blood pressure to qualify for surgery, and the aforementioned substances can increase your blood pressure significantly. Other things to avoid prior to surgery include skin irritation, excessive caffeine consumption, and excessive sodium consumption.
Will I Need To Buy Anything Special for My Recovery?
It is a very good idea to pick up your prescription medications prior to your procedure. Even if you don’t want or need to take the analgesics, you will need to take a full course of antibiotics exactly as they have been prescribed. You also may want to purchase a case or two of water and healthy ingredients or premade foods that you can throw together easily for dinner.
Moreover, you may want to purchase a saline-based nasal spray. During the first portion of your recovery, you will not be able to blow your nose. If your nose feels itchy, you may want to use a nasal spray to calm your sinuses instead of waiting for the sensation to pass. Alternatively, you can make your own nasal spray with sterile water. Just make sure you boil the water and let it cool before adding the other ingredients if you don’t have distilled water.
Will I Need To Arrange for a Ride Home After Surgery?
Yes, you will need to secure transportation home after your procedure. Regardless of the type of anesthesia you receive to keep you calm and comfortable during your procedure, you will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours afterward. Effects of anesthetics vary from person to person, but the likelihood is high that your reflexes will be dampened significantly, making it unsafe for you to operate heavy machinery, like cars.
How Long Will My Recovery Take?
You can generally expect your skin to take around six months to recover fully from the incisions made. If cartilage was grafted onto your nose to increase its size or smooth out depressions along the bridge, it may take closer to 11 to 13 months to recover from surgery fully. However, you should be aware that you won’t need to take more than a week or two off from work to recover.
What Can I Expect During the Recovery Process?
You can expect your recovery process to be pretty quick, comfortable, and convenient. However, there are restrictions you will need to adhere to. For example, you will need to wear glasses as little as possible during the middle portion of your recovery. For a while, you will be instructed to wear a protective splint over your nose. The splint is hard enough that you can wear your glasses as you usually would without damaging the soft cartilage and skin during recovery.
However, there will come a time that the protective splint is removed. For a while after this time, you will need to wear glasses as little as possible so you don’t put too much pressure on your nose as it continues to heal. You may need to buy contacts to wear during this time if you need to wear your glasses all day. If you need reading glasses, you may prefer to get special lightweight frames that won’t harm your nose during recovery.
What Can I Do To Speed Up My Recovery Process?
You need to make taking care of yourself your top priority if you want to recover from surgery as quickly as possible. To accomplish this, you will need to take several steps, including sleeping right, hydrating, and nourishing your body. Here’s a closer look at some of the most important things to do.
Sleep Right
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to get between seven and nine hours of uninterrupted sleep during the first couple of weeks post-op. Your skin will work around the clock to heal itself from the incisions made to improve your nose. However, most of the healing takes place during the rapid eye movement stage of the sleep cycle. The REM stage occurs at the end of the sleep cycle, and sleep cycles typically last for 90 minutes at a time.
Therefore, if you wake up every hour, you probably won’t spend as much time as you could in the REM stage of the sleep cycle. Regardless of how long you sleep before you wake up, the sleep cycle starts from the beginning each time you fall back asleep. If you find it hard to stay asleep at night due to excessive nighttime urination, stop hydrating several hours before bed and limit your caffeine intake.
Hydrate
Hydration is another key piece of the puzzle if you are concerned about recovering as quickly as you can. Make sure that you drink at least six cups of water every day. If your urine isn’t extremely pale, increase your intake of hydrating fluids. Note that coffee and tea, like water, are considered hydrating fluids. You can also increase your hydration by eating more foods with a high water content, like broccoli, kale, and spinach.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
A nose job is considered permanent, but a follow-up procedure may be necessary in the future if an injury occurs. Also, skin sags and wrinkles as we age, so you may want to get nasolabial folds treated several years after your procedure. To find out for sure whether rhinoplasty is appropriate for you, an initial consultation to discuss your health and goals is required. Schedule an appointment at Kadz Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA with Dr. Bruce Kadz today.
