The answer largely depends on what your doctor recommends, but usually patients will be able to wash their face within a few days of the procedure. Unless you have splints that need to stay dry before its removal, you should be able to maintain personal hygiene soon after coming home from the procedure.
After the first week
You can also start to rinse out the nose with a mild saline solution. You can also put the saline solution on a cotton swab to carefully scrub the inside of your nose. After about a month to six weeks, your nose should be able to handle your regular cleaning routine.
How long after rhinoplasty can I wash my nose? You can start washing the outside of your nose after 7-10 days, once the splint covering the surgery area has been removed. Make sure you do this gently until your nose fully heals in 4-6 weeks.
Washing Face and Nose after Rhinoplasty
On the seventh day after rhinoplasty, your bandages and splints will be removed, and you can wash your nose with lukewarm water. For rinsing the nostrils also, you have to use saline serum or a nasal spray.
Week 1: During the first week after rhinoplasty surgery, be sure to give yourself ample time for rest and recovery. For the first few days, there is significant swelling, you'll feel tender, and you'll be unable to breathe through the nose. The nasal dressings, splint, and sutures are typically removed after 7 days.
Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline
1 Week: The splint can be removed from your nose and you can go out in public without showing noticeable signs of surgery unless there is bruising around the eyes. This may take 2 weeks to resolve. It is safe to resume activities of daily living.
You may wash your face being careful to only cleanse the area surrounding the area around the nasal tape/splint. You may shower 2 days after surgery. If you shower, use a dry washcloth or plastic wrap over splint/tape. Please shower or bathe using only lukewarm water for first 2 weeks after surgery.
Use Q-Tip & Hydrogen Peroxide
Using a Q-Tip and hydrogen peroxide is a safe, effective way to clean and disinfect your nose and rhinoplasty incisions, but should only be done after any packing has been removed from your nose and face.
You may gently clean dried blood from the inside of the nose with a Q-tip and dilute hydrogen peroxide. Refrain from blowing your nose or sneezing if possible for 2 weeks. Use saline spray or a bulb syringe for comfort and to help clear drainage. Keep head elevated when resting, and sleep with at least 2 pillows.
Patients can participate in the following activities two weeks after rhinoplasty surgery: Short walks. Light household chores. Driving (if you feel comfortable and are not taking pain medication)
Moreover, in most cases, it is safe to laugh and smile naturally after the 2 weeks of getting the procedure done but it is important to keep in mind that everyone's healing process is different and all patients should confirm it with the doctor before making the changes to their lifestyle.
You may wash your face, shower and shampoo your hair the day following surgery. It won't cause damage if your nasal splint dressing gets a bit wet, but don't run water directly onto the splint.
Once the bandage has been removed, gentle and regular cleansing with a simple toner should help. But ensure that you don't rub, massage or wipe too hard. Some exfoliators are fine to use but avoid aggressive exfoliators, as the nasal skin can be extremely sensitive in the early stages following surgery.
You Can Sneeze
Worried about sneezing after surgery? Don't. As long as you sneeze with your mouth open, to keep pressure off your nose, you'll be just fine.
Most patients can return to work after 1-2 weeks, depending on the type of work. Resume normal activity slowly, being careful not to push too hard too soon. Strenuous or contact activities should be put off for at least 3-6 weeks.
After the stitches or staples are out, you may wash the incision with soap and water and gently dry the area. If you have strips of tape on the incision the doctor made, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
It is recommended to wash your face and take a shower. In the meantime, you should take care not to get the plaster bandage and splint wet, and after removing them, you should wash your face. You should be sure that the cleaner you use is smooth. For a while, your skin will be sensitive.
After a few weeks, you will notice some crusts, bumps, and ridges or irregularities inside your nostrils. These are completely normal, and will resolve slowly on their own. It may be tempting to try to remedy these yourself, but doing so could very easily disrupt your nasal tip permanently.
There is always some nasal discharge after rhinoplasty or septoplasty for the first few days. This is nasal phlegm from the nose being stimulated by the surgery and by the stents inside the nose.
Avoid touching until your surgeon certifies that the goal of Rhinoplasty has been achieved and that the nasal region has fully recovered. Any unwanted touch, push, or poking can misalign the cartilage or bone and even undo the positive results.
Care for the incision site. The skin incisions should be washed with soap and water three times per day starting the day after surgery. This should be done very gently and pat dry (do not wipe). After drying, the incisions should be cleaned with a 50% solution of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and a Q-tip.
It is okay to wash your hair or shower as long as you do not get the nasal dressing wet. Do not blow your nose for 10 days after surgery. It is okay to rinse your nose with salt water (saline) rinse in the meantime to help flush out your nose. Use an open mouth sneeze, if you have to sneeze.
After a rhinoplasty procedure, don't be surprised if your smile is temporarily affected by post-operative swelling. The effect is temporary and your smile will return to normal after the initial swelling has dissipated. This may take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.
Sleeping on your side or stomach is not recommended for several weeks after the procedure because it places unnecessary pressure on your nose. Resting on your back in an elevated position cuts down on congestion and minimizes swelling after rhinoplasty surgery.
It's only natural that patients get curious about how their nose looks and feels like after rhinoplasty. Nonetheless, it's not a good idea to poke, push, or touch your nose during the healing process. This may misalign the nasal tissues, hurt, or even undo the results accomplished from the nose job surgery.