After rhinoplasty, you want to be cautious to protect your nose so that it heals correctly, but life happens. You cannot always prevent or predict when an incident may occur that causes a bump to your nose. Not every tap is cause for concern, but there are instances where you should contact your facial plastic surgeon to follow up. Here are a few general rules of thumb following rhinoplasty surgery.
Take a breath and relax. Do not panic after a hit to the nose. Consider the force of the impact. Was it a gentle tap that hurt slightly but did not result in any lingering pain or redness? Or was it a more forceful hit that caused throbbing, swelling, bleeding, or bruising? If it was the former, there was likely little to no damage done, and you should not experience any long-term problems. The nasal bones are fragile, but they will not break at the slightest touch.
If it was the latter, apply an icepack and place gauze under your nose to stop any bleeding. Call Dr. Shemirani to explain the situation and decide what steps to take next. He may have you come into the office for a follow-up to see if the bump caused any damage or will interfere with the healing process.
Keep in mind that your nose will be the most sensitive to trauma during the first four to six weeks after surgery. After six weeks, the bones and cartilage will be fairly fixed in place and less susceptible to moving. However, you should still be cautious until you have fully recovered.
Tips for Protecting Your Nose
To reduce the risk of injury, here are some precautions to keep in mind:
- Avoid playing sports or engaging in activities that put you at high risk for hitting your nose or face. This includes not only sports such as baseball, football, wrestling, or soccer, but also roughhousing with children or pets.
- Refrain from strenuous exercise as well heavy lifting or vigorous movement. Choose lower impact activities for several weeks.
- Wear your nose cast if you are concerned about bumping your nose to lessen the force of any impacts. You can also wear it while you sleep for additional support.
- Wear button-up shirts so that you do not have to pull clothing over your head. It is easy for tighter-fitting shirts to get caught on your nose.
- Opt for contact lenses as opposed to glasses to remove pressure from the bridge of your nose and prevent jostling that can occur with taking your glasses on and off.
Address Your Nose Concerns
As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Nima Shemirani has extensive experience performing rhinoplasty and refining the look and function of noses of all shapes and sizes. If you experienced any trauma to your nose following surgery and are concerned about the impact on your final results, do not hesitate to contact Eos Rejuvenation. Whether it was a false alarm, or immediate or future revisions are necessary, our team will work with you to determine the appropriate course of action to optimize healing.
