Activity after Rhinoplasty Surgery

Many patients who are interested in having a nose job,  often, wonder what types of activity they will be able to do immediately following their surgery. Dr. Kevin Sadati feels it is important to remind Orange County patients that the rhinoplasty procedure is a significant surgical operation and requires a short period of recovery that can last from 7-10 days. During this time, recovering patients should keep in mind that their activities should be limited, and there will be some restrictions. Typically Dr. Sadati provides Newport Beach patients with the following recommendations for the first few days after their surgery.

Activity after a Rhinoplasty Surgery

Sleep with your head elevated and utilize your ice packs while you sleep. Dr. Sadati often recommends that patients sleep in a reclining chair. This helps to improve breathing after the surgery as well as minimize the impact of swelling.

You are not allowed to drive for 24 hours after the operation. Anesthesia that is used during the operation  does not wear off completely for at least 24 hours. It is not safe for a patient who has just had any type of cosmetic surgery to drive immediately after the operation.

Feel free to walk as often as you wish after the operation. Do not run or participate in strenuous exercise activities. It is important to remember that your entire body is recovering from the surgery, and you do not want to push yourself too hard.

Avoid blowing your nose, no matter how much you feel it is dripping or draining. Instead of blowing your nose, simply sniff the drainage backwards. You do not want to damage your sensitive nose by forcefully blowing on it. It may relieve temporary discomfort, but it could result in significant long-term damage.

Remember that you have a 10-pound weight restriction. Avoid lifting anything that weighs more than 10 pounds, including children and pets.

Try not to strain to perform any task. Straining too much immediately after the operation could impact the result of the surgery. You won’t want to irritate the nose or damage the structure that has just been surgically altered.

Limit your sexual activities until you are feeling better. It is important to rest and take it easy during the recovery process. Try to avoid sexual activities until your recovery is complete.

It is important that all patients adhere to these guidelines as they are designed to protect the surgical site as well as provide the patient with the best, most natural-looking results after the recovery period is complete. Dr. Sadati finds that patients who are prepared for the recovery experience prior to their operation have a better understanding of what to expect when the surgery is complete. It is important to prepare both mentally and physically for the cosmetic surgery experience. Patients who are interested in the rhinoplasty procedure and want to find out if it is the right choice for them should set up a free cosmetic consultation with Dr. Sadati.