Rhinoplasty Aftercare in Washington DC

Most plastic surgery procedures will require some level of healing process in the days and weeks afterward. This is a critical time where you must let the body heal itself after the operation, which can be difficult to do if it affects your daily routine. Dr. Michael Somenek is a Board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can tell you more about proper rhinoplasty aftercare in Washington DC.

Medical Support Following a Rhinoplasty

After the rhinoplasty, the patient will have a cast on their nose for about seven days. There will be no packing placed in the nose, but in the event of a septoplasty, there will be splints placed in the nostrils to help the septum heal straight. In addition, the splints keep the airway open throughout the week of recovery and potentially improves the breathing during that first week.

There will be a small gauze dressing underneath the nostrils that can catch any drainage that occurs. The patient can change this as needed for the first couple of days.

How Long Does the Healing Process Take?

The healing process varies depending on the individuals, the thickness of their skin (which can coincide closely with ethnicity), and if they have had a previous rhinoplasty in the past. For revision rhinoplasty patients, they can experience prolonged swelling afterward which can last weeks. If months go by and swelling is still present, they may need to come back to the office for some steroid injections and/or nasal taping.

Patients will be able to meet routinely with Dr. Somenek in the initial week after the procedure. Depending on the amount of swelling that is present, and how they are progressing with the recovery, he will meet with them again at either four or eight weeks. Healing can occur faster for some and slower for others, and the aftercare for a Washington DC rhinoplasty will be tailored to this level of progress.

The Post-Operative Experience

The aftercare for a rhinoplasty addresses more than just the nose itself. In addition to the swelling, patients will experience a dull headache in the first couple of days which they can manage with some pain medication as needed. They will need to take antibiotics for the first week, which helps keep the nose clean.

Their breathing may be fairly congested in those initial days of post-op, but once the cast and (if necessary) splints are removed after their one-week visit, their nasal breathing should improve exponentially. This will allow them to gently blow their nose and clear out any debris that may have accumulated during the recovery.

Once the cast is removed, Dr. Somenek will educate the patient about how to gently blow their nose without putting pressure on one nostril at any given time throughout the second week. They can gradually increase to more normal nose blowing as the nose continues to heal and the structure begins to loosen up.

Learn More About Proper Rhinoplasty Aftercare in DC

There are numerous things you need to do – and avoid – for your nose to heal properly after surgery. Fortunately, Dr. Somenek and our knowledgeable nursing team will provide you with all of the information you need to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Give us a call to discuss rhinoplasty aftercare in Washington DC.