Each year in the United States, about 220,000 rhinoplasties are performed, making it the most common facial plastic surgery in the country. If you’re joining these ranks, you want to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible, which means preparation is key.
The good news is that before, during, and after your rhinoplasty, you’re in excellent hands here at Houston Sinus Surgery in Houston. Dr. Cecil Yeung is double board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, as well as facial plastic surgery, and has performed thousands of facial surgeries.
Thanks to this experience, we know a few tricks for making your life easier during this process, and we share some of them here, namely those to do with preparation.
Shower beforehand
After your rhinoplasty, it may be a few days before you can hit the shower, so we recommend that you take a nice, long shower or bath the night before, so you’re clean from the start.
Avoid creams and makeup
On the day of your procedure, please don’t apply any creams, lotions, or makeup to your face.
Avoid smoking and alcohol
If you're a smoker, you should quit before your procedure, as smoking can slow the healing process. As well, we advise that you don’t drink alcohol for a day or two before your procedure, and we strongly suggest that you avoid alcohol during the first few weeks after your surgery.
Arrange for time off
Whether you need to punch a clock at a job or you’re a stay-at-home caregiver, you should arrange for some time off after your rhinoplasty. We recommend taking 10-14 days to give your body time to heal.
Arrange for transportation
While we perform most rhinoplasties on an outpatient basis — which means you’re free to return home the same day — we will place you under general anesthesia. This means that you’ll be groggy when you wake, so it’s important that you arrange for transportation back home.
Manage your meds
We ask that you steer clear of any medications that may encourage bleeding, such as ibuprofen. If you’re taking any other medications or you’re on a blood thinner, it’s important that you share this information with us so we can manage your meds, and your health, before your rhinoplasty.
Elevate your head
During the first few weeks after your rhinoplasty, we’re going to ask that you keep your head elevated as much as possible to encourage draining. Before your procedure, we suggest that you do a little bed prep.
You can buy a wedge pillow that will keep your head high, or you can raise the top of your bed a few inches. It’s also important that you sleep on your back, so you might arrange for pillows that you can place on either side of you to keep you from rolling over.
Get cold compresses
You’ll likely encounter swelling after your rhinoplasty, so you should place a few, flexible cold compresses in your freezer. Any pharmacy will have gel packs that will work well for covering your nose.
If you follow these tips, you can greatly ease your recovery period after your rhinoplasty. Rest assured, we supply you with ample instructions for your aftercare, and we’re here to answer any questions you may have before and after your procedure. To learn more, call or book an appointment online with Houston Sinus Surgery today.
