If you are planning to have a nose job, you might be concerned about the downtime and the post-operation care that might be required, and with that in mind, here is our post-op guide to undergoing rhinoplasty.
- Accompanied by an adult – You are advised to have an adult with you for the first 24 hours after the surgery, during which time, you must rest completely.
- Rest with head inclined – For the first week, your head should be inclined using two pillows and avoid allowing your head to be in a lower position than your body, which means you should not bend down.
- Prescribed pain medication – The clinic would provide you with a prescription for painkillers and you should take these prior to being in pain, as it is much easier to prevent pain than to relieve it.
- Remain inactive for a few days – From the day of the surgery, you should remain as inactive as possible for at least 5 days, as this will greatly reduce the downtime. When you leave the nose surgery clinic (called คลินิกศัลยกรรมจมูก in Thai), you should be driven home rather than drive yourself, as you will still be a little groggy from the general anesthetic.
- Nasal Packing – On some occasions, the surgeon would insert nasal packing, which keeps the nasal passages open and the clinic might ask you to return after a few days to allow the surgeon to remove this packing.
- Silicone Splint – In most cases, the surgeon will attach a small silicone splint, which helps to keep the nasal bone in the right position and it also acts as protection for the newly operated tissue. This splint is removed after one week and it should be kept dry at all times, otherwise it might fall off prematurely.
- The Importance of food and drink – While you should only ingest clear liquids within the first few hours after the surgery, it is vital that you eat properly and stay hydrated. Good hydration can prevent vomiting and nausea and if you are eating three means per day, your recovery should be optimal.
The clinic would give you a list that is similar to the one in this article and should you have any issues, you should telephone the clinic as soon as possible. While it might be a little uncomfortable for the first week, after that, recovery should be quick and by following the post-op instructions, you should heal completely in a short period of time.