Have you recently undergone a nose job? If so, then you want to protect your rhinoplasty results during recovery. The surgical procedure reshapes the nose and nasal cavities so they function well and look attractive. During the recovery process, you’ll want to take care of yourself to ensure a successful recovery.
Dr. Manish Shah is a board-certified plastic surgeon at Shah Aesthetic Surgery in South Denver who offers rhinoplasty procedures to patients near Cherry Creek and the surrounding areas. Dr. Shah helps patients achieve their goals in both appearance and function.

How to Protect Your Rhinoplasty

Below are four ways to protect your rhinoplasty after Dr. Shah conducts the surgery:

• 1. Control the swelling and protect your nose

Use a cooling pad or flexible ice pack to control the swelling and alleviate pressure in the area. This is essential during the first few days after surgery. The cold of the ice pack or cooling pad helps to restrict blood flow to the nose and ease the swelling so that you can heal rapidly.
You should avoid blowing your nose during the healing process, or you could injure the nose and damage the rhinoplasty results. Blowing your nose can also irritate the interior of the nasal cavities. Try to wipe or gently dab your nose if drainage should occur.

2. Resting and walking

Following rhinoplasty surgery, you should take time to rest and relax. Avoid strenuous activities and exercise following the surgery. You should avoid stress and give yourself time to heal properly.
When resting, try to keep your head elevated to reduce swelling in the nose and face.
Walking also helps to increase blood flow and improve circulation, which spurs fluid movement in the nose. Take a walk to reduce stress and ease any swelling or fluid buildup. Also, walking helps increase your breathing and heart rate, which helps spur oxygenated blood flow throughout the body to accelerate the healing process.

3. Bathing instead of showering

You will have splints, supports, and bandages around the nose following surgery, which should not get wet. Take a bath instead of a shower following rhinoplasty to avoid getting the bandages wet. Normally, bandages are removed in about a week following the surgery.

4. Hydrate and eat healthy

During the recovery process, you should stay hydrated and eat healthy to promote rapid healing. Water helps to flush out the toxins in your body and reduce the likelihood of an infection developing. Drinking plenty of water also encourages drainage of the wound during the healing process.
Avoid eating spicy foods. Spicy foods irritate the interior of your nose and sinuses. The spices can also dilate your blood vessels, which increases swelling in the surgical area, causing discomfort.
Say no to salt on your foods, which can increase your blood pressure and lead to swelling in the surgical region.

Schedule a rhinoplasty consultation in South Denver

It’s important to follow up with Dr. Manish Shah at Shah Aesthetic Surgery in South Denver to ensure your rhinoplasty is healing properly. Always promptly discuss any concerns or problems that you might have with the doctor and aesthetics team. Also, if you are considering rhinoplasty, you can discuss your goals with Dr. Shah to determine if the surgical procedure is right for you. If you live near Cherry Creek or the surrounding areas, schedule a consultation today.