What to Expect After Rhinoplasty Surgery

After your nose revision surgery (or rhinoplasty surgery), you will be sent to the recovery area and later you will go home.  Most people go home the same day.  You will have a splint in place over your nose, and your nose may feel tender and bruised.  Bruising around the nose and under the eyes is common after rhinoplasty surgery. 

When you arrive in the recovery room, it may feel as if you can’t breathe through your nose.  Your nose may have packing in it.  To make sure that you are receiving enough air, you may have a monitor on your finger recording your oxygen levels.  Your mouth may become very dry from breathing through your mouth during this time.  There may also be some drainage that gives you a funny taste in your mouth.  You may brush your teeth as often as needed to help with this funny taste or swish and swallow water or mouth wash to help.

You may also have an ice pack or cold compress on your face and nose.  This will help decrease the swelling associated with the surgery.  You should use this compress as directed, and continue to use it at home for the first week or two weeks after surgery.

You will wear a splint after surgery for one to two weeks.  Do not remove the splint unless instructed to do so, and do not blow your nose.  You may feel ‘stuffy’ after rhinoplasty surgery.  Talk to your surgeon is this becomes severe, as he can help you with some medications.  It may take several weeks for the majority of the swelling to go down, but then the ‘new nose’ can make its public appearance!