How To Reduce Swelling and Bruising After Rhinoplasty Surgery

After a rhinoplasty, your body will naturally need some time to heal. Recovery will require some patience, self-care, and following important post-operative instructions. Swelling and bruising after rhinoplasty, while uncomfortable, are typically normal signs of your body’s natural healing response, but following a few essential recovery tips can help you reduce these signs faster.

In this blog, we’ll outline our tips for helping swelling and bruising subside. At Valley Plastic Surgery in Brisbane, our experienced surgeons will provide personalised recovery advice for each patient to follow after a rhinoplasty. With a tailored list of instructions, you will have your own individualised guide to reducing swelling and bruising after rhinoplasty, but these key tips make a good general guide to start familiarising yourself with! 

Why does swelling and bruising occur after a rhinoplasty?

Swelling and bruising are part of the body’s natural response to surgery.

During a rhinoplasty, the nasal tissues and bones are surgically manipulated, leading to inflammation and blood leakage under the skin. When leaked blood collects beneath the skin, it leads to visible bruising. Over time, the body breaks down and reabsorbs the blood, causing the bruises to change colour and eventually fade away.

Swelling is essentially caused by increased blood flow and fluid leakage into the surrounding tissues in the operated area. Similar to how bruising fades, the fluid is slowly reabsorbed by the body over time. The body will also naturally reduce inflammatory signals.

The body’s natural reaction to surgery occurs to promote tissue regeneration and repair, and prevent infection. Swelling also creates a cushion around the affected tissues, protecting them from further trauma and allowing the healing process to take place uninterrupted.

How long does swelling and bruising take to subside?

The length of a recovery period after a rhinoplasty can differ from patient to patient, including how long swelling and bruising will last.

Recovery will depend on the complexity of the rhinoplasty, and how each patient’s body will naturally respond. Both swelling and bruising normally show within the first few days after surgery, but bruising can become most prominent after about three days, before it starts to fade.

Generally, swelling will start to subside within the first week (especially if recovery advice is followed!), and subside to a noticeable level by the end of the second week. Over the months after surgery, swelling will continue to subside, but it can take up to six months (or more) for all swelling to completely disappear.

As for bruising, it typically starts to fade during the first week, but significantly fades after about two weeks. Following recovery advice to help reduce swelling can also contribute to reducing bruising more efficiently.

Our recovery tips to help reduce swelling and bruising after rhinoplasty

Both swelling and bruising, along with other post-surgery symptoms, can subside faster if you follow your recovery advice!

Here are our general tips to help reduce swelling and bruising after rhinoplasty.

• Get plenty of rest. After your surgery, you’ll need to take a small break from work and avoid strenuous exercise. Your body will need energy to heal the operated area, and being too active can put a strain on the healing process. Not allowing your body to have enough time to rest can prolong swelling, cause discomfort and possibly even lead to complications, if the healing process is hindered.
• Keep your head elevated. While you’re resting (and sleeping!), keeping your head elevated can significantly help to reduce swelling around the nose. We recommend using an extra pillow, or even sleeping in a recliner if you find that an extra pillow is uncomfortable. Not keeping your head elevated and frequently bending over can increase blood flow to the nose, which can increase (or prolong) swelling. Slightly elevating your head can prevent increased blood flow to the area.
• Apply a cold compress to the cheeks (not directly on the nose!). Cold compresses, particularly during the first 48 hours after surgery, can help constrict blood vessels, reducing swelling and bruising.
• Protect your nose from any injuries or damage. While your nose is healing, it will be very important to avoid any activities that could potentially injure your nose. This includes contact sports, and situations where there may be a risk of bumping your nose. If further damage is caused to the tissues in the area, it will only prolong (or even worsen) swelling and bruising, further triggering the body’s healing response.
• Follow a healthy diet and stay hydrated. Following a healthy and balanced diet is important anytime, but it’s particularly helpful after your body has undergone surgery. Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals can help to support healing, while drinking plenty of water aids in flushing out toxins and reducing swelling. If you need personalised advice when it comes to eating healthy, it can be helpful to meet with your GP or a dietician before undergoing your surgery.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. To promote general healing after a rhinoplasty, which can essentially help to reduce both swelling and bruising, it’s a good idea to avoid smoking and alcohol. You may be instructed to quit for at least two weeks after your surgery.
• Avoid taking certain medications. Some medications, particularly blood-thinning medications (and supplements), can increase the risk of bleeding and the appearance of bruising. Before a rhinoplasty, you’ll need to discuss the details of any medications or supplements you take. If you do need to stop taking certain medications or supplements, you’ll be provided with personalised advice on when to stop taking them and for how long.

Following these tips can be absolutely essential to your body’s healing after surgery – but tailored, personalised advice will provide you with more detailed guidance on how to support your body best.

Get tailored advice from one of our experienced surgeons at Valley Plastic Surgery in Brisbane

When it comes to navigating your recovery process after a rhinoplasty, discussing your personal needs and receiving personalised advice is key.

When you meet with your selected surgeon at Valley Plastic Surgery, you can discuss your personalised instructions and what to expect during your recovery.

If you want to book a consultation for rhinoplasty, please get in touch with our team!