Patients are advised to do post operatory bed rest during the first seven days or to limit their physical activities as far as possible. Regarding physical intense activities, patients are advised to wait three weeks. For anaerobic intense physical activity it is best for patients to wait a month.

It is normal to have drainage from your nose which will be tinged with blood for the first 72 hours. Change the gauze pad under your nose as often as needed. Once the drainage has decreased, you will be able to dispose of the gauze. Do not blow your nose during the first fifteen days; forceful blowing your nose risks significant bleeding. You may instead sniff backwards without any risk.

In most cases, there is no packing in your nose. We place two cellulose films inside the nose (x-ray film material) which help to prevent bruising and internal sinechia. Unlike nose packing, these films do not obstruct the nose. They are removed after 5 or 14 days depending on the case. Nevertheless, during the first ten days, the nose is heavily obstructed due to post operative swelling, mucus secretions and crusts (a sensation similar to a having a cold). The obstruction will decrease gradually. Normally after a month, internal swelling will subside and breathing will become easier.

Bruising and swelling are a normal part of a rhinoplasty procedure, they reach their peak 72 hours after the intervention; 90 % of which resolves within 10 days. The swelling will be more pronounced during the morning hours. Sometimes the whole face swells up to the upper lip and jaw, this is normal. To help the reabsorption of hematomas and local edema patients are advised to use:
1. Ice compresses below your eyes and the space between your eyebrows.
2. Chamomile Tea: It is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It is very useful during the first ten days. Use Instructions: Boil a pot of water and make tea with tea bags of chamomile or camomile flower available in herbalists (within patient’s preference). Then let it settle for a few minutes and add ice to the solution. Apply cold chamomile tea compresses over the swollen area for 30 minutes top every three hours.
3. Arnica: Arnica is an herbal supplement (non allopathic). Pour five pills into the cap of a bottle and then toss them into your mouth, under your tongue. Repeat this procedure every 12 hours during two days. Patients can begin taking Arnica the day before the surgery. Never handle arnica pills with your hands. For safety reasons only purchase Arnica from licensed pharmacies (although scientific evidence of its effect is scant, it has been proved to be harmless).
4. Keep your head bed as upright as possible: elevating your head after surgery helps reducing swelling but it is not strictly necessary.

Generally no. The post-operative is not painful. Patients usually experience some sort of discomfort due to nasal obstruction. In case of discomfort, patients are advised to take painkillers such as ibuprofen or diclofenac. Patients have to take as well antibiotics the days after the procedure.

A splint is placed on the nose and in most cases it is removed after 6 or 15 days. Underneath the splint there are surgical steri-strips which help decrease the amount of swelling. After the steri-strips are taken off, the skin will look seborrheic; you can gently clean the skin of your nose with mild soap and use moisturizers, astringents and keratolytic lotions.

There are two critical moments. The first few days while there is visible hematoma (though slightly) it is essential to protect the skin from the sun, even from indirect sunlight. Patients are advised to minimize sun exposure and wear protective SPF 40 or higher, even indoors. After the bruises are gone, you should wait 30 days to sunbathe, but this is more a matter of comfort and to avoid a possible swelling that is sometimes caused by early exposure.

There is no special cleaning. You may clean your nostrils with Q-tips dipped in hydrogen peroxide; clean the nostrils gently to protect the sutures. Crusts and mucus are expected for several days, there will also be a silghty smell, only perceived by the patient. Nasal saline solution can also be used to improve permeability.

During the first ten days, patients are recommended to use reading glasses and dark glasses since they are worn over the external splint. Once the external splint has been removed, patients are advised not to wear glasses for approximately four or six months. Contact lenses, these can be worn without restrictions. If glasses are light, a tape can be put over the nasal dorsum after the cast is removed.

The sutures are removed between 6 and 20 days after the operation. There are some sutures inside the nose which will dissolve within time.

There are no specific food restrictions after a rhinoplasty. We recommend eating soft and cool food during the first week.

When bathing, you will have to manage not to wet the splint and the steri-strips. Patients should bathe head and body separately. Avoid hot baths. Some patients prefer to have their hair washed at a beauty salon.

Drs. Luis and Hernan Chinski give their personal cell phones to all their patients to communicate at all times in case of doubts or concerns and complications other than the expected ones.