Rhinoplasty, otherwise known as a nose job, is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the world. At Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS, conveniently located less than half an hour from Kansas City, we are proud to offer this procedure. If you’re on the fence about whether this procedure is right for you, there are probably a lot of questions running through your mind.
How long will my recovery take? How long will I have to take off from work? What can I do to recover faster? What restrictions will I need to adhere to? Today, we’re answering a number of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure to help you determine whether it is right for you. Keep reading to learn more.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After Rhinoplasty?
It can take between 11 and 13 months to recover from rhinoplasty fully. However, a full recovery may not take this long if cartilage isn’t removed from your septum, rib, or ear, and used to correct depressions along the bridge of your nose. You may be fully recovered after just six months if there were only a couple of small incisions made in your skin.
Other Frequently Asked Questions Answered
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
If you’re looking to get a nose job in the Kansas City area, the first thing you need to do is schedule an initial consultation with a local cosmetic surgeon. During this consultation, we will evaluate your concerns and discuss your goals to verify that this procedure will be effective for you. Then, we will verify that it will be safe by discussing your health history, current health, and medications. Also, we will verify you can follow all pre-op and post-op instructions.
How Long Will I Have To Take Off From Work?
You will need to take roughly one to two weeks off from work. The more physically demanding your job is, the more time away you will need to spend. However, you should plan to take no fewer than five days off from work to focus on your recovery.
What Can I Do To Recover Faster?
To recover as quickly as possible, you need to follow all post-treatment care guidelines. Remember, we will go over all of these rules during your initial consultation. If there are rules you don’t think you’ll be able to follow, let us know. It may affect whether you are a good candidate for this operation. We will then review the rules you are expected to follow once your procedure is over. If you have any questions at any point, please don’t hesitate to ask.
One of the most important things you must do to ensure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible is to stay hydrated. For your skin to heal itself, it needs an adequate amount of collagen, and water is one of the building blocks required for your skin to make collagen. It is also a key ingredient that is necessary for your existing collagen to remain strong and operate efficiently.
How Much Will I Need To Sleep After My Surgery?
You will need to sleep as much as possible once your surgery is over. Usually, adults can function optimally with only 7.5 hours of sleep per night. However, under normal circumstances, your body doesn’t need to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to healing itself from surgery. After your nose job, you should do your best to sleep for nine consecutive hours per night during the first several weeks of your recovery period.
There are many reasons why it is important to get many hours of consecutive sleep. The primary reason to aim to get as much consecutive sleep as you can is that the longer you sleep, the longer you spend in the deepest phase of the sleep cycle. However, if you wake up, when you fall back asleep, you essentially start from square one. If you don’t sleep for at least 90 minutes at a time, you may not even get the benefits of a full deep phase.
How Should I Sleep After Rhinoplasty?
Sleeping on your back after a nose job is vital because your recovery can take longer than it should if too much pressure is applied to your nose. If you sleep on your side or stomach, the combination of the force of gravity and the weight of your head pressing down on your nose, can seriously hurt your recovery. Furthermore, it is possible that your results will be affected negatively.
Can I Wear Glasses After My Surgery?
During the first seven days following your surgery, it is okay to wear glasses. This is because there will be a splint and protective bandaging covering your nose. Once the splint is removed, though, it will be a while before you can wear your glasses whenever you want to again. If you can’t get contacts and need glasses to see, speak with your eye doctor about getting lighter frames from your optical lenses.
Can I Exercise After My Surgery?
It is highly advisable that you get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day five days weekly. For instance, at least five days per week, you should go for three 10-minute walks or two 15-minute walks. A leisurely bike ride through your neighborhood is another good way to get cardiovascular activity in to facilitate a rapid recovery.
However, you will not be able to participate in vigorous physical activity for six to eight weeks following your nose job. For example, you will not be able to lift heavy weights, compete in triathlons, or play team sports. It is important that your blood pressure is not too high during the early stages of your recovery. Also, you will not be able to have sex within seven days of your procedure.
Can I Smoke After My Procedure?
No, you will not be able to smoke or consume other products containing nicotine for the first two weeks after your procedure. This is extremely important because nicotine increases your blood pressure significantly. If your blood pressure increases too much, your recovery may be affected. Similarly, you should avoid consuming alcohol for two weeks following your procedure to help prevent your blood pressure from increasing too much.
The higher your blood pressure is, the less efficiently nutrients, oxygen, and healing human growth factors can circulate throughout your body to your nose. This can increase your recovery time unnecessarily. Drinking alcohol during the first two weeks of your recovery is particularly bad because drinking alcohol dehydrates you and causes you to flush out vital nutrients that your skin needs to maintain the health of its collagen.
What Is the Importance of Collagen?
Collagen is crucial for a speedy recovery because it is a protein found in the foundational layer of your skin that helps your skin heal itself. In addition to not drinking alcohol to keep your collagen healthy, you should make a point to eat nutritiously and stay hydrated. Specifically, three amino acids found in abundance in protein from legumes, cruciferous vegetables, and poultry are necessary for your skin to keep its existing collagen healthy.
Furthermore, these amino acids are required for your skin to produce more collagen. Regarding hydration, you should try to drink enough hydrating fluids, like water, coffee, and tea, for your urine to be very pale consistently. However, you should keep in mind that your daily caffeine consumption should not exceed 400 mg if your blood pressure is normal. If you can’t drink enough hydrating fluids to remain hydrated, eat more foods that are high in water.
How Should I Prepare for My Procedure?
There are many important steps to take before your nose job to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. One of the most important things you must do to prepare for your surgery is to ensure that your blood pressure is normal. Therefore, you should not smoke cigarettes, consume other tobacco products, or drink alcohol. Also, sodium and caffeine consumption should be moderated prior to your procedure.
It is also important that your blood is not too thin at the time of your surgery. Therefore, you will need to refrain from taking Coumadin, ibuprofen, or any other drugs or supplements that will affect blood clotting. Also, it is important that you are well hydrated when you come in for your procedure.
Will I Need To Fast Before My Nose Job?
If you need an open nose job to achieve your desired results, there is a good chance general anesthesia will be ideal for you. If this is the case, you will need to fast for several hours prior to your operation. Specifically, you will not be able to eat anything within eight hours of your scheduled appointment time. You will also not be able to drink certain fluids, like orange juice with pulp, during this time.
Up until two hours prior to your scheduled appointment time, however, you will be able to drink clear liquids, like pulp-free coconut water, carbonated water, and flat water. Pulp-free apple juice and white cranberry juice are also acceptable. Moreover, you should ensure that your skin is not irritated at the time of your appointment. Therefore, you should do your best to protect your nose from sun and wind damage and not get any irritating skin care treatments pre-op.
How Long Will My Procedure Take?
You can generally expect your procedure to take between 90 and 180 minutes depending on the scope of your procedure. If your concerns are mild in nature, your procedure may only take an hour and a half, especially if you get a closed nose job. On the other hand, if your concerns are moderate or severe in nature, you may be a better fit for an open nose job, and your procedure may take closer to three hours.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Rhinoplasty results are considered permanent.
Schedule Your Rhinoplasty Consultation Near Kansas City Today
Are you in the Kansas City area? Do you think a nose job would help you breathe better or boost your self-confidence? If so, and you can take six to eight weeks off from vigorous activity, you may be a good fit. To find out for sure whether this procedure is right for you, contact us today at Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS to schedule your initial consultation. We look forward to meeting you soon!
