Post-operative instructions

Some bleeding is normal and expected during the first 72 hours. Change the drip pad (the gauze under the nose) as often as needed to keep clean and avoid stains. Once the bleeding and discharge stop, usually after 24 hours, you can go without the gauze.

Don't blow your nose for the first 15 days, as it could cause a nosebleed. You can, however, breathe in deeply through your nose without any risk.

In most cases we don't use packing. We place internal stitches that dissolve after a few days. Sometimes we place 2 cellulose sheets (X-ray film material) that we remove after 10 days.

Even so, during the first 10 days the nose is somewhat blocked by post-operative swelling, crusts and discharge (it feels similar to a cold). The blockage eases gradually: only after 30 days can the nose be considered completely clear.

Swelling and bruising increase and peak at 72 hours. 90% has resolved by day 10. Swelling is more noticeable in the morning. Sometimes the whole face swells down to the upper lip and the jaw: this is normal. To help them go down you can use:

1. 1.Cold compresses under the eyes and between the eyebrows, with ice wrapped in a cloth (not directly on the skin).
2. 2.Chamomile tea, known for its local anti-inflammatory effect, useful for the first 10 days. Make the tea with tea bags or, preferably, with chamomile flowers from a herbalist; let it steep for a few minutes and add ice. Apply cloths soaked in it to the swollen area for 30 minutes, every 3 hours at most.
3. 3.Arnica, a homeopathic remedy: 5 pellets of 30 CH under the tongue every 12 hours for 2 days. You can also start the day before. Don't touch the pellets with your hands and buy it from a reputable pharmacy. Its effectiveness has not been proven, but it has been shown to do no harm.
4. 4.Raising the head of the bed: it helps the swelling a little, but is not strictly necessary.

Usually not. The recovery is not painful: patients usually describe discomfort and a feeling of nasal congestion. If there is pain, you can take painkillers such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or paracetamol.

In most cases a splint is placed, which stays on for 6 to 15 days. Underneath there are adhesive tapes that help contain the swelling and reduce oedema. When the tapes are removed, the skin will be oilier: you can wash it with a neutral soap once or twice and use moisturising, astringent and keratolytic creams.

If the splint comes off on its own too early, don't worry: it means it was no longer doing its job. It is best to put it back, secure it with tape on top and let the surgeon know.

There are 2 stages. While there is any visible bruising, however slight, it is essential to protect the skin from the sun, even from indirect sunlight: stay in dim rooms or use SPF 40 or higher sunscreen, even indoors.

Once the bruising has gone, we recommend waiting one more month before going in the sun, but more for comfort and to avoid the feeling of swelling that early exposure sometimes causes.

No special cleaning is needed. If you like, you can clean with a cotton bud soaked in saline solution, without pulling hard on the crusts, to protect the stitches. It is normal to have crusts and discharge for several days, sometimes with a slight odour that only the patient notices. You can put saline drops in the nostrils to help them stay clear. We also recommend a cream or ointment for the scar.

You can wear glasses (prescription, reading glasses or sunglasses) from the first day; there is no restriction. For the first 10 days they rest on the cast and afterwards on the tapes, which stay on for about 15 more days.

Contact lenses can be worn from three hours after surgery, without any problem.

Stitches are removed between days 6 and 20. Some stitches are left inside because the body absorbs them without needing to remove them.

Not really, but it is advisable to avoid excessive chewing (soft diet) and to choose food at room temperature or cold during the first week.

You'll need to find a way not to get the splint or the tapes on your nose wet. It is best to wash your hair and your body separately, and to avoid very hot water. Some patients choose to go to a hairdresser to have their hair washed.

Dr. Luis Chinski and Dr. Hernán Chinski give their personal mobile number to all their patients, so they can get in touch at any time they need if questions or anything unexpected come up.

The final result can only be seen a year after surgery. As a rough guide, 70% of the result is visible at 2 months, 80% at 3 months and 90% at 6 months.

In the first days after the splint is removed, the nose will be very swollen. If it swells on one side only, it may look slightly asymmetric for a while. The tip is what takes longest for the swelling to go down. We recommend not drawing conclusions about the result during the first 2 months. If a surgical touch-up is needed, it is usually done after 6 months, with some exceptions.

Primary rhinoplasties have a 5% chance of needing further surgery. Secondary rhinoplasties, a 25% chance.