When you wash your face, it's important to use a gentle face soap around your nose in order to avoid irritating the area, so avoid cleansers with an exfoliating or scrubbing agent, like microbeads. You can also moisturize, but it's a good idea to keep your nose dry since that helps with proper healing.
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.
Incision lines should be cleaned 1 to 2 times per day with Hydrogen Peroxide and a Q-tip to remove any crusting that may build up. Vaseline (a thin layer) should always be a kept on the incision line to help the skin heal. Apply Vaseline at least 2-3 times per day or more to keep the incision line moist.
It is amazing how quickly the body heals after cosmetic surgery. The first week is the most critical period for rhinoplasty healing. After 7-10 days, patients can begin to use other sleeping positions.
After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the cut with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the cut with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
There is no ban on brushing after rhinoplasty, but it should be done carefully so as not to shake the nose.. To brush, open your mouth as slightly as possible and gently move the toothbrush in your mouth.. To prevent pressure on the nasal septum and sutures.
You should be able to wash normally after your stitches, dressings and clips have been removed. It's usually better to have a shower until the wound has healed to avoid soaking it completely. Afterwards, pat your wound and the area around it dry.
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.
While most regular household chores are perfectly safe to do at this point in time (cooking, laundry, dusting, tidying up), we highly recommend you save the heavy lifting – trimming the hedges, cleaning out the gutters and retiling the tub – for the future.
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.
Sinus rinse nasal wash – A nasal wash of the nose and sinuses with saline (salt solution) is a very important part of the postoperative care for most patients. The irrigations should be started on the first day after surgery. They are done twice a day unless instructed differently.
You may shower and wash your hair, but do so carefully the first time after surgery. Heavy lifting, straining, and exercise that might cause nasal bleeding should be avoided during the first week. Thereafter, you may resume normal activity if you feel up to it. Don't be surprised if you tire more easily than usual.
Prop up your head
You will have to sleep with your head elevated for 24-48 hours after surgery to help the bleeding slow down and help the swelling resolve. Prior to surgery, set up your bed with at least two pillows so you can prop your head up at night.
To answer your question in short - you will be able to smile usually 1 to 3 months after rhinoplasty surgery. Let's analyze different events post-surgery and how/why they will impact your smile. When extensive work is done, the muscles responsible for holding the upper lip become temporarily weakened.
Drink a lot of fluids the first day after your rhinoplasty surgery. Drinking lots of fluids will keep your mouth from getting dry and since you are forced to breathe through your mouth during the healing process, you will always have a dry mouth. Do not drink alcohol or smoke for 10 days after your surgery.
Hard Foods
Hard to chew, sticky, and crunchy foods are on top of the list of foods to avoid after Rhinoplasty. It can contribute to your swelling, cause discomfort or even pain, and add to Rhinoplasty recovery time.
After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. After this time, you can get your stitches wet briefly with a light spray (such as in the shower), but they should not be soaked (for example, in the bath). Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards.
Should you keep stitches covered? You'll likely leave the hospital or your provider's office with your stitches already covered, and Dr. Yaakovian recommends leaving them dressed for two to three days. During this time, avoid getting the covering wet.
Wash your hair with mild shampoo as soon as possible after treatment and then not again until after the stitches have been removed.
Swelling and Bruising.
Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.
Luckily, one week post-operatively, it is safe to resume sleeping on your back or side, provided that you are careful to avoid putting pressure on your nose. While it is safe to lie flat on your back or carefully on your side, it is important to understand that doing so may prolong swelling and bruising.
Bending over is not recommended for at least three weeks, as this can increase swelling and aching. Avoid exercise for the allotted timeline of four to six weeks, and avoid activities that will be likely to injure or damage your nose.