The first week is the most critical period for rhinoplasty healing. After 7-10 days, patients can begin to use other sleeping positions. Be careful to avoid putting pressure on the nose, and if you can sleep comfortably on your back while elevated, continue to do so.
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.
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.
While you may be anxious to return to your preferred sleeping position, it is critical that you continue sleeping on your back with your head elevated for about 7 – 10 days after rhinoplasty, or until cleared by Dr. Khorsandi.
Answer: Sleep on Side After Rhinoplasty
It takes six weeks until the bones have healed completely post rhinoplasty.
Additional dos and don'ts after rhinoplasty include: Don't touch your nose: Patients should take great care to avoid putting any pressure on their nose, including even touching the nose, for at least 1 – 2 weeks after surgery, or until Dr. Khorsandi advises that it is okay to do so.
After 48 hours you may sleep flat on your back, you may not sleep on your stomach or sides for four weeks. Fluids: Fluids are critical following surgery. Drinking fluids is very important to help rid the body of the drugs used in surgery.
I recommend sleeping on your back after your rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty. During your recovery, your nose will be delicate and malleable, so it is important not to sleep on your stomach or side, which can put pressure on your nose. This will not only cause discomfort but may also compromise your results.
Four to six weeks after rhinoplasty, we observe occasional dropping of the nasal tip due to several causes [5]. Such causes may include scar contractures, weight of the nose, and the action of the depressor septi nasi muscle [5].
Make sure you do this gently until your nose fully heals in 4-6 weeks. At that point, you may wash your nose as normal. You can start cleaning the inside of your nose with the rinsing method as soon as the nasal packing is removed and you have some blood accumulating that needs to be cleaned.
Once patients feel comfortable enough to sleep on their side or front, it is usually safe to do so. Generally speaking, most patients will need to sleep on their back with their upper body slightly elevated for about 2 – 3 weeks after facelift surgery.
Three weeks post-rhinoplasty, about 70 percent of swelling is gone. This is the time when a patient starts to recognize the changes and begins to appreciate the new shape of his or her nose. It's ok, actually quite normal, to feel a little self conscious at this time.
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.
The tip takes the longest time to heal and mold to the new framework because it's the thickest skin of the nose. If the tip of your nose is still very firm, it may mean that there is still some swelling.
2 - 3 Months Post-Rhinoplasty
By this point, any swelling around the bridge of the nose should have subsided completely. You may still experience some numbness at the tip of the nose. This is normal and the feeling should gradually return. The scar from an open procedure will begin to fade.
If your nose starts to bleed at all during the first two days post-surgery, sit up straight and do not tilt your head backwards or lie down.
After about 6 weeks your nose will be roughly as strong as it was before the operation. The strength of the nose returns faster than the sensitivity subsides. So, even though the nose may be quite strong, it will still feel quite delicate and sensitive to the touch.
Smiling and laughing 2 weeks after a Rhinoplasty should not have any impact on the final result.
Swelling after a Rhinoplasty
However, the next week, people often see MORE swelling, particularly in the tip of the nose. Most people look very good by three to four weeks, but the swelling in the tip is almost always still present. I notice that most patients' swelling peaks at one to two months.
Try to avoid yawning widely for two weeks if at all possible. Crying after nose surgery is even more heavily discouraged than other facial movements, because when you cry strenuously, your nasal muscles shrink, and the result can be inflammation, which you want to avoid at all costs!
Generally, swelling is the most common reason why your nose looks bigger after rhinoplasty, which is completely normal. As a general rule, half of the swelling in the nasal tip will be gone after a month, but it will take at least a year for the tip to reach its final shape.
The simple answer is no, laughing or smiling is not likely to ruin your rhinoplasty if you do it in moderation. However, if you laugh or smile too hard, it can put unnecessary strain on your incisions and cause them to open up. It's important to be mindful of this and take it easy for the first few weeks after surgery.
Sleep is very important
The importance of rest after surgery is stressed by doctors because your body is going to do a lot of healing while sleeping. After all, your body does the majority of its healing while you're asleep. It's important that you're able to take a nap whenever you need to.
When can I have a bath or shower after surgery? 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).
What Causes Insomnia After Surgery? Insomnia following surgery can be caused by pain, inflammation, and medication side effects. The noise and bright lights of an in-patient hospital setting can also make sleep challenging for those who require overnight hospital stays.