Frequently Asked Questions

How is a rhinoplasty procedure performed?

① Pre-surgery consultation.
② On the surgery day (D-day) re-consultation, surgery, and about 1-2 hours of recovery after surgery.
③ Nose cleaning and packing removal on the day after surgery or 2 days later (D+1 or D+2).
④ Removal of splints and removal of stitches on the nasal column 5 days after surgery.
⑤ Removal of stitches inside the nose and behind the ears 10 days after surgery.
⑥ Stitch removal at the cartilage and dermal fat extraction site 10-14 days after surgery.

What shouldn’t I do after rhinoplasty?

① Do not apply direct strong pressure to the surgical site.
② If cartilage is taken from the ear, avoid lying on the surgery side for a month to prevent wounds from opening or deforming.
③ Avoid blowing your nose for 1-2 months after surgery.
④ Avoid saunas and steam rooms for a month post-surgery.
⑤ Refrain from drinking alcohol and smoking for 2-3 months post-surgery.
⑥ Light exercise can be done within a month post-surgery, but strenuous activities should be avoided for at least a month. It’s crucial to maintain your health for at least 4 weeks post-surgery as activities like long treks or all-nighters can decrease immunity.
⑦ Wearing glasses is possible 1-3 months after surgery. Make sure the nose pad of the glasses doesn’t touch the silicon part by adjusting the glasses.
⑧ Post-surgery, the nose skin becomes sensitive to sunlight. Avoid excessive exposure for 8 weeks and apply sunscreen when going out.

What should I do after rhinoplasty?

① For 1-2 weeks post-surgery, it’s best to sleep with your upper body elevated. Use 2-3 pillows to keep your head higher than your heart. Sitting is better than lying down, and standing is better than sitting. Light walking is even better than standing.
② If using an ice pack to reduce facial swelling, avoid the nose surgery area and apply around the eyes and cheeks without applying too much pressure.
③ If the gauze below the nose is damp then you should change it. Clean any blood with a wet tissue.
④ If there are crusts or foreign materials in the nose, apply ointment generously and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. Then, gently wipe away with a cotton swab.

What are some possible side-effects of rhinoplasty?

① If your facial axis is curved, raising the height of the nose can make it appear more curved.
② Even after asymmetry correction, some natural asymmetry might remain.
③ Implanted cartilage at the nose tip can be felt.
④ Abnormal scar tissue can cause nostrils to appear different.
⑤ Using ear cartilage can cause ear deformities.
⑥ Perforations may occur in twisted nose correction or when using the nasal septum.
⑦ Skin might thin or contract due to the use of implants.
⑧ Smoking or underlying diseases can lead to circulation issues, causing skin or shape deformities.
⑨ The implant can become shaky.
⑩ The surgical incision starts to fade 2 weeks post-surgery and gradually improves over 3 months.
⑪ The type and height (in mm) of the implant discussed during consultation can change during surgery based on physical conditions.
⑫ For revision nose surgeries:

If there’s insufficient information about the previous surgery, unforeseen complications might arise during the procedure.
Tissues (like cartilage) used in previous surgeries might have been consumed. Inevitably, more tissue might be required during surgery. Sometimes, if there’s a shortage of natural tissue, artificial materials or allografts might be used. Patients will be informed post-surgery.
Compared to previous surgeries, revisions can be more complex with many unexpected variables, necessitating additional corrections.

Do I feel pain after rhinoplasty?

If you have pain after nose surgery, take the prescribed painkillers and Tylenol. However, in reality, the nose doesn’t hurt much. Instead, there might be pain in the places where cartilage has been removed, like the septal cartilage or ear cartilage. Do not take medicines containing aspirin or medicines that improve blood circulation for a week after surgery.

What are the symptoms of inflammation after rhinoplasty?

Inflammation is the most severe side effect, occurring in less than 1% of cases. If inflammation occurs, the nose becomes red, painful, swollen, and pus may come out. If inflammation persists even after about 5 days of cleaning inside the nose, antibiotic injections, and oral medications, it’s best to remove the inserted material. Although removing the inserted material may feel unfortunate, it’s to prevent further complications. Re-surgery without additional cost can be done after 3 to 6 months.

What do I do if Inflammation Occurs after rhinoplasty?

Inflammation can occur anytime after surgery, but it’s most common 7-10 days post-surgery.
If inflammation is suspected, the surgical site is cleaned, either through an incision inside the nose or an open method. Depending on the condition, cleaning may be repeated for 3-5 days, accompanied by antibiotic treatment.
If the condition improves, only antibiotic treatment is continued for up to 2 weeks.
If there’s no improvement, the implants or cartilage used in the surgery are partially or fully removed, followed by days of cleaning.
About 2 weeks after the removal of the implants, a cartilage transplant is done to reinforce the nose tip and prevent sagging. If the bridge is too low, autologous dermal fat grafting might be performed. After about 6 months, if the nose shape is still unsatisfactory, additional surgery might be needed.
After nose surgery, the nose feels tight and blocked
You might feel tightness or pressure around the nose and bridge for about 2 weeks to a month, but it mostly improves within 6 months. The feeling of a blocked nose can worsen for 1-2 months. This is because the inside of the nose is swollen and there’s an increase in nasal discharge after trimming nasal hair, but it improves over time.

What should I do if there is bleeding and sneezing after rhinoplasty?

On the day of surgery, blood might drain from the nostrils or flow down the throat. This is due to blood pooled inside the nose during the operation, so don’t worry. Just wipe away the blood that has drained out. Sneezing might also occur; if it does, open your mouth when sneezing.

What if my forehead is too high after rhinoplasty?

Regardless of the material used, the forehead height reduces over 6 months. Swelling of the forehead can make it appear even higher. If the height is just right immediately after surgery, it may be too low later on.

How many days of vacation should I take after rhinoplasty?

Usually, facial swelling or bruising lasts for about 2 weeks. Stitches are removed on the 5th day post-surgery, and you’ll need to wear a nasal splint, so it’s good to take at least a 7-day vacation.

How long does the swelling last after rhinoplasty?

Typically, facial swelling or bruising lasts for about 2 weeks. However, it takes about 4 weeks for all the swelling to completely subside, even to a specialist’s eyes.

Should I avoid rhinoplasty in the summer?

High temperatures can promote infections, but our bodies always maintain around 36.5°C whether it’s summer or winter, so seasonal factors don’t significantly increase the risk of inflammation.

Why is a full body anesthesia test done before rhinoplasty?

General anesthesia is absorbed through the lungs and reaches the brain through the bloodstream, and some are detoxified in the liver and excreted through the intestines. If these functions are impaired, recovery from anesthesia may be delayed or worsened. Pre-operative testing is also a legal requirement. Hence, blood tests, ECGs, and chest X-rays are needed.

Why should I fast before rhinoplasty and for how long?

If you eat and then are anesthetized before the food has been fully digested, there’s a rare chance you might vomit. If this enters the lungs, it can lead to pneumonia due to food and stomach acid, which is dangerous. Therefore, you need to fast from water 3 hours prior and from food 8 hours prior.

What if I wake up during anesthesia?

You won’t wake up from general anesthesia until the doctor wakes you. For local and sleep anesthesia, you might wake up in the middle of surgery, but it won’t hurt and you can be put back to sleep.

Does it hurt when waking up from anesthesia?

There might be discomfort for a day after surgery, but it can be managed with painkillers.

Can I use make-up after rhinoplasty?

After rhinoplasty, makeup is typically possible after stitch removal. However, it’s advisable to wait for about a week post-stitch removal. Avoid intense cleansing and opt for lighter makeup.