How Long Does it Take for a Nose Job to Fully Heal?
Our rhinoplasty clients are always excited to start their journey to a revamped appearance, but the most common concerns our plastic surgery specialists in Los Angeles hear are about the recovery timeline and the potential for undesirable end results.
With the double-board certified cosmetic surgeons of Westside Face, we can ensure that you will be happy with your rhinoplasty recovery process and end result. We use new rhinoplasty methods that result in minimal downtime and post-op swelling.
Rhinoplasty, septorhinoplasty, and broken nose repair are very delicate procedures that require highly specialized training and experience in order to produce optimal results. Each nose is different, which means each surgical technique should be different.
While surgical prowess is one of the factors most considered in those looking to find a Los Angeles nose job specialist, another factor is important as well; believe it or not, customer service is very important in creating a positive surgical experience. Customer service is put in the spotlight in the first step of the rhinoplasty process: the initial consultation.
Initial Consultation
All of our patients are required to attend a consultation prior to surgery.
While your surgery will not happen on the day of your first visit with your facial plastic surgeon in Los Angeles, it’s extremely important to your end result. Oftentimes, botched nose jobs are the result of a consultation that is not taken seriously or where a middle ground is not reached between the Los Angeles plastic surgeon and the patient. Your idea of what you want may not be what’s feasible for your bone structure or budget, and you and your doctor should have an open and honest discussion about your plastic surgery goals so that you are both happy with the surgery.
Your nose job specialist in Los Angeles will be able to digitally enhance your profile to show you what you will look like after the surgery. It’s crucial to understand what your doctor is aiming for during your surgery. This can help with your feelings at the reveal of your nose job and calm your nerves prior to surgery.
Pre-Op
Like with any surgical procedure, nose job patients need to prepare in order to ensure a smooth surgery and short recovery time. Your nose job specialist will tell you to avoid certain substances proper to the surgery, as they can lead to excess bleeding and bruising. A month before the nose job in LA, you should avoid:
- Pain killers
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Smoking
The Rhinoplasty Surgery
Rhinoplasty surgery in Los Angeles is performed as an outpatient surgery, meaning you’ll leave the office once it’s over.
Our doctors can do either open or closed rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty comes with a shorter recovery time since there are minimal incisions required. The incisions are also made on the inside of your nostrils, so any scarring will not be visible from the outside. Not all nose job goals can be completed with closed rhinoplasty, so you may have to settle for open rhinoplasty. If we perform open rhinoplasty, we will make incisions where your nostril meets the skin of your face so that scarring is easily covered. If you truly want to eliminate the scarring that serves as a reminder of your nose job, you can get them lasered away in a few treatments.
If you are the kind of person who’s afraid of surgery and incisions, then Westside Face has an alternative option for you. We can perform a nose job through fillers in LA. Dermal fillers can be injected into your nose in order to reshape it. This option does not require anesthesia or surgery, but the dermal fillers will be broken down by your body within the year, so you’ll have to go in for touchups once or twice a year if you’d like to keep your nose shape.
Post-Op & Recovery
Here at Westside Face, we pride ourselves on our patients recovering with minimal downtime.
In the days following your surgery, it’s normal for your nose and the area surrounding it to be swollen and bruised. You should not remove your splint until you visit your doctor for a follow-up and they remove it for you.
Depending on the magnitude of changes to your nose, you may be able to notice the difference as soon as you wake up. Other times, you will have to wait until the splint is removed and the swelling further subsides.
You should avoid strenuous activity in the first week after your surgery, and you can begin light workouts such as walking the week after. You should wait another two or three weeks to resume high-intensity workouts to avoid complications.
It can take a month or more before you start feeling excited about your new nose. This is because there is much less swelling, so you can see the improvement in your nose’s shape.
You may be surprised to learn that you won’t see the real and final outcome of your nose job until six months to a year post-operation. A follow-up will not be necessary this far down the recovery process, unless you are having abnormal issues such as bleeding and bruising that won’t go away. On the rare chance you are unhappy with the result, you can discuss an additional surgery or filler to correct this issue.
About Westside Face
The plastic surgery specialists of Westside Face emphasize preserving the bone structure and skin vitality that’s unique to each individual patient while making small, but impactful, improvements. This technique allows us to rejuvenate patient’s faces by enacting small and deliberate changes that make a huge difference. Each patient that undergoes cosmetic enhancement at Westside Face can expect:
- Natural-looking changes
- Long-lasting results
- Shortest possible recovery time
Plastic surgery patients often want to return to their everyday life ASAP after a procedure, and our approach allows a speedy recovery. Minimal downtime plays a huge role in client satisfaction.
Whether it’s vision obstruction or breathing issues, we also aim to improve functionality with our cosmetic surgeries. Our award-winning closed scarless rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, facelifts, and necklifts will not only make you look better, but you’ll also feel better. Even more, we accept and are in-network with Medicare, and most PPO/HMO insurances. Schedule a consultation with an aesthetic specialist at Westside Face today by calling 310-846-8519 or emailing appointments@westsideface.com.
