Swelling and bruising after surgery, they are not unusul after rhinoplasty

Swelling and bruising after surgery

When planning rhinoplasty, you need to consider the pros and cons in advance. It should also be borne in mind that this operation is considered one of the most difficult in plastic surgery. In addition to the qualifications and experience of the doctor who will perform the intervention, the patient has to follow the recommendations of the surgeon very strictly. This is the only way to achieve the desired result.

A successful operation cannot completely guarantee the absence of problems during rehabilitation if the patient does not adhere to the restrictions and some rules. Swelling and bruising are one of the foreseen side effects, therefore it is extremely important to follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding the elimination of these unpleasant moments.

How long does puffiness and bruising last after rhinoplasty?

During the operation, the doctor works with the tissues of the nose, surrounded by many blood vessels.  He removes excess, damages the capillaries, resulting in bruises and swelling.  Such phenomena are often observed on the areas of the back of the nose and wings, areas under the eyes are also injured.

Despite the fact that we are expecting such an effect, many patients are worried about how quickly the swelling will disappear and what should be done to eliminate the unpleasant “set”. Of course, the body of each person is individual, it is impossible to tell right away when the bruises will pass and the puffiness will disappear.

Factors affecting the degree of blue discoloration:

• thickness of the skin – with a thin dermis of the face, bruises disappear faster;
• fragility of blood vessels – even with minimal damage to them, bruises cannot be avoided;
• the complexity of the operation.

It does not take long time to achieve complete tissue repair. However, mild nasal swelling can remain for up to a year. If the shape and size of the nose need correction involving bone and cartilaginous structures, the tissues will swell after the operation.

As a rule, puffiness appears and disappears:

• visual swelling and bruising last up from two to three weeks;
• after 14-21 days, hematomas disappear completely;
• the absence of puffiness is noted from the fourth month.

The increase of edema during these periods requires urgent medical attention. The surgeon will conduct a thorough examination, possibly recommend a course of physiotherapy or prescribe medication.

Recovery period after rhinoplasty

After the operation, it is recommended to follow a number of rules:

• starting from the first days and during the week – a semi-sitting position for rest, refusal of cosmetics, no strong movements and head tilts and hot baths;
• from the second or third week – restriction of physical activity, facial massage is contraindicated, heat on the swollen area is forbidden;
• period after two – three months – avoid tilting the head down, pressure of damaged tissues.

If the puffiness does not go away, ointments, anti-inflammatory gels prescribed by a doctor help to remove it. Of course, you should not expect an instant disappearance of bruises, since everything depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The age of the patient and   some other additional factors must be taken into account. Topical preparations, ointments which help to improve the outflow of fluid can speed up the healing process.

An experienced surgeon always warns the patient about difficulties after rhinoplasty. In addition, it is useful for the patient to know that after the open method and reoperation, the swelling and bruising last longer. This is caused by a significant violation of the lymphatic system of the nose and blood supply during surgery. Therefore, rhinoplasty is often performed by a close method with a minimum of swelling and bruising.