Rhinoplasty surgery, also known as a nose job, is a common cosmetic surgery in the world. This surgery not only can improve your appearance also treat functional problems. But same as any other surgical procedure there are some risks and complications associated with this surgery such as swelling and bruising. Rhinoplasty bruising and swelling is a permanent condition that will improve over time. Bruising is your body natural response to trauma. When blood from damaged blood vessels beneath the skin pool into the area causes discoloration.
Tips to reduce rhinoplasty bruising and swelling
There are some tips that help you to reduce rhinoplasty bruising and swelling:
- As much as possible try to rest after the nose job Overactivity can worsen nose job bruising and swelling.
- You should keep your head elevated above chest level as much as you can especially while sleeping. It reduces swelling and bleeding risk.
- Using an ice pack is effective to remove swelling and bruising. You should hold the ice pack around your eyes, never put it directly on your nose.
- Watch your diet. A low-sodium diet helps to reduce swelling as well as foods such as whole grains, fresh produce and good fats in seeds and nuts. Try to drink much water in order to stay healthy and hydrated.
- Take care properly your dressings. The splint and bandages support your nose and reduce swelling. Make sure don’t move or bump them, so they don’t become dislodged. Usually, the dressings should stay in place for one-week post-op the surgery.
- Attend all the follow-up appointment after the surgery. Sometimes persistent swelling requires special dressing or steroids.
- Avoid blood thinner medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen before the surgery and during the recovery time. They can increase the risk of bleeding.
- Don’t take hot baths and shower because it can stretch blood vessels and worsen bruising.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
what causes bruising and swelling after rhinoplasty?
There are also some factors that affect the occurrence of swelling and bruising following the nose job including:
- The extent of the surgery. The more extensive rhinoplasty causes more bruising and swelling.
- The skill of your surgeon. It is the most important factor that affects your rhinoplasty bruising and swelling. Usually bruising happen during the surgery when the surgeon cut into the nasal bones in order to make the bridge width more slender. If the surgeon makes the cuts through the periosteum that lays on top of the nasal bone surfaces, the bruising and swelling will occur. So the expert of the surgeon is very important during the nose job.
- Your body responds to the surgery. Everybody has a unique body and may respond to the surgery differently. For example, your skin thickness, age, nutrition, circulation, and other factors can affect the recovery time.
- Rhinoplasty technique. Some nose job techniques can cause more swelling compared to the other techniques. For instance, if your nasal bone needs to move during the surgery you should expect more swelling after the surgery but if only your nostrils reshape you will experience very little swelling.
- Your age. It is another factor affect rhinoplasty bruising and swelling because older people usually have blood vessels which are more breakable than younger people. Fragile blood vessels are more sensitive to bruising.
- Post-operative care. If you follow post-surgical care instructions that your doctor provided you, your bruising and swelling will heal sooner.
- You should avoid medications that may increase swelling and bleeding after the surgery.
General speaking most patients may experience rhinoplasty bruising and swelling after the surgery. But everybody heals differently depending on different factors including the surgeon expertise. If you find an expert and certified rhinoplasty surgeon who has many experiences in rhinoplasty surgery, you will experience fewer complications after the operation and will achieve desired results. The nose job recovery time may last up to one year. But most of the bruising and swelling will remove after one to two weeks’ post-op the surgery and you can back to your work and resume your daily activity after this time.
