Before and after rhinoplasty surgery cares are the most important points that help to reduce the surgery risks. Many risks are highly correlated with before and after rhinoplasty surgery cares. If the patient followed the instructions, he/she would obtain better results. In fact, these guidelines are aimed to obtain the best possible results after rhinoplasty surgery. Therefore, considering the instructions in every step, including before and after rhinoplasty surgery help the patient to have a successful surgery with satisfying results.
Goals of rhinoplasty
Before any action, it is necessary to specify the patient’s goal of nose job or rhinoplasty surgery. To achieve a satisfying result after rhinoplasty surgery, the goal and motivation of the patient should be logical and proper. There are many different goals for this surgery, including medical problems and cosmetic surgery.
Whether the goal is some medical problems (such as birth or congenital defects, various blunt or penetrating traumas, injuries, breathing problems, and deviated nasal septum) or only cosmetic reasons (such as irregularities, humps, bumps, depressed bridges, irregular nostrils, and nose tip), the common goals for nose changes could be:
- Nose augmentation (making the nose bigger)
- Nose reduction (making the nose smaller)
- Enhance the symmetry of the nose
- Adjust the proportion of the nose with the face
- Straightening the nose bridge
- Increase the size of nose openings (nostrils)
- Narrowing the nostrils
- Altering the shape of the nose’s tip
Before rhinoplasty
Meet the surgeon
The first step before rhinoplasty surgery is choosing an expert plastic surgeon. Choosing an expert and experienced surgeon is considered an important factor in reducing the surgery risks. After selecting the surgeon, the patient should have a meeting with his/her surgeon.
In this meeting, the surgeon will discuss the patient’s goal for rhinoplasty surgery. He/she will talk about the procedure and its risks and benefits. After evaluating the goal, the surgeon will examine the overall medical conditions of the patient to proceed with the process. In this meeting, the surgeon will pay attention to the patient’s medical history and also her/his physical examination.
Medical history
Medical history is a collection of information about the patient’s previous health problems, and personal or family medical history. These questions will help the surgeon determine if the patient is a good candidate for rhinoplasty surgery.
The surgeon may predict many possible risks that are specifically related to a particular patient. Sometimes, a person may have a contraindication for the surgery, so taking a good medical history will help to find out any potential problems. The medical history may include:
- Past history: in this part, the surgeon will ask about the underlying health problems, any congenital or genetic diseases, the history of metabolic diseases, history of unstopped bleeding history, previous general surgeries, and also a history of nasal obstruction or surgery.
- Family history: the surgeon will ask about any inheriting disease in the patient’s family, parent's respiratory and metabolic diseases, and also a history of nasal congenital problems in the patient’s family members.
- Personal history: the surgeon will ask about the patient’s specific habits such as smoking, social interaction, and also concerns and expectations.
- Drug and allergy history: the surgeon will ask about any medications that the patient is taking, history of any previous allergic reaction to foods, drugs, cosmetic agents, and also anesthetic drugs.
Physical examination
Physical examination of the whole body and the face is a very important part of pre-operating care. The surgeon and anesthesiologist will examine your body systems such as respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The surgeon will pay attention to the patient’s facial structure and nose features.
By examining the physical features of the face and nose, the surgeon will decide about the necessary changes to the patient’s nose, breathing after surgery, and possible risks.
Photograph
An exciting section is taking photos of the patient’s nose before rhinoplasty surgery. Photos should be from different angles of the nose and be transferred to the computer. Software is used for the assessment and manipulation of photographs to characterize the possible results after surgery. Photos are used for assessing before and after surgery changes.
Blood tests
The nose surgeon should evaluate the blood coagulation and overall health condition of the patient by some necessary blood tests, which include:
- PT and PTT for control of blood coagulation problems
- FBS for control of blood glucose (which is important for the healing process)
- Hemoglobin for assessing anemia
- Creatinine for assessing kidney function
- HIV
- HBsAg
- HCV Ab
- Pregnancy tests for women
Nutrition before surgery
Good nutrition before any surgery is important. Likewise, in rhinoplasty surgery, it is important to have healthy nutrition and avoid some irritant foods. Eating protein sources such as fish, chicken, beef, nuts, low-fat yogurt and beans is beneficial for enhancing the immune system and healing process.
In addition, fruits and vegetables are good for decreasing healing time, swelling and bruise. Being hydrated is also especially beneficial for rhinoplasty patients. Patients should avoid irritant foods such as pepper, ginger, eggplant, tomato, alcohol, and caffeine.
Control of stress
Rhinoplasty is cosmetic surgery on a very critical part of the body, i.e., the face. It is usual that the patient may have fear, stress, and discomfort. However, for having a good surgery and the best recovery, the patient must control his/her stress.
A night before surgery, the patient should sleep well, because stress hormones have adverse effects on the inflammation and wound healing process.
Discontinuation of specific drugs
Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin E, and herbal compounds should be discontinued at least two weeks before surgery.
Nicotine and tobacco smoke should be avoided two weeks before and also after the rhinoplasty surgery.
After rhinoplasty surgery
After surgery, patients may have a splint inside their noses. It will be removed after a few days or one week of surgery. Feeling groggy and tiredness is very common after surgery, because of anesthesia, that’s why patients should sleep well. While sleeping, they should elevate their heads to prevent swelling and bruising.
Usually, during 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, patients will note some changes on their noses, but the final changes are hidden under the nose inflammation and edema. The final changes will reveal progressively and during the time because healing of bones and cartilages of the nose takes time. Therefore, patients should be patient and consider all the surgeon's instructions.
Usually, changes are measured on very small scales, such as millimeters. Even if it looks too small, these small changes to the structure of the nose are completely enough to make a significant change in nose appearance. Only in very rare cases, a revision surgery may require.
Parents may be worried about some signs and symptoms after surgery, but they are normal. Those signs may be:
- Swelling and bruise around the nose and eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Headache
- Swelling in nose, lips, and cheeks
- Pain in the nose and its surrounding
- Slight bleeding and mucus drainage for a few days
These points should be avoided
Patients should avoid some points after surgery to help the healing process. Those points are as follows:
- Extreme facial expressions, such as smiling and laughing
- Strenuous activities such as running and jogging
- Swimming in the pool
- Weight lifting
- Sniffing (it should be through the mouth)
- Blowing of the nose
- Eating foods that cause constipation
- Putting eyeglasses on the nose
- Blood diluting drugs, such as aspirin
- Taking shower until the splint is inside the nose
- Being in crowded places
Nutrition after surgery
Patients after rhinoplasty surgery should eat some soft and liquid foods. Foods should not require chewable, because chewing will pressure on the nose and increase the pain and hemorrhage. Very hot and very cold foods are also should be avoided. Excessive salt may be harmful, especially for increasing the risk of swelling.
What you expect
It is very exciting to see the results of the rhinoplasty surgery. By comparing the current changes with the previous structure of the nose, the degree of changes will become recognizable.
The aim of every patient and every surgeon is the satisfaction of the patient after the rhinoplasty surgery. Photographs that have taken before the surgery, are worthy now. Therefore, the surgeon will compare the photographs before and after the rhinoplasty surgery to show the changes in patients.
Usually, patients are so excited and expected for seeing the final results of the rhinoplasty surgery right after the surgery. However, they should know that this surgery like other surgeries, has a recovery period and it takes time to reveal the final changes.
For the best results, patients should consider all the surgeon’s instructions, especially during the first weeks after surgery.
Our service
As we declare, Ermateb is a facilitator in the medical tourism industry. We are trying to provide the best services, considering patients’ comfort. We also provide free consultations for patients. You can connect with us and discuss with our specialists about your condition and your goals for rhinoplasty surgery, we advise you free of charge.
Your Message Sent Successfully!
Your message will come after confirmation.