Beating the Post-Rhinoplasty Blues

Post-rhinoplasty recovery can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Understanding the different types of rhinoplasty and how to manage your healing process is key to regaining confidence and achieving your desired outcome.

Key Takeaways

• Types of Rhinoplasty: Open, closed, revision, and filler rhinoplasty vary in invasiveness and recovery time.
• Post-Surgery Emotions: It's normal to feel anxious; consulting your surgeon can help.
• Healing Process: Gradually resuming normal activities and journaling your progress aids emotional recovery.
• Support from Experts: Experienced surgeons can guide you through your post-rhinoplasty journey and address concerns.

It’s normal to feel nervous and uncertain about the scarring from rhinoplasty surgery. Or, most commonly, feeling anxious over how your nose will turn out regardless of how many reassurances you have received from your plastic surgeon. If you are seeking out rhinoplasty, the right plastic surgeon can help the healing and recovery process and help set you on the path to recovery both physically and mentally.

There are four different types of rhinoplasty surgery. The most major surgery is open rhinoplasty surgery. With open rhinoplasty surgery, you are least likely to experience any breathing problems following the surgery since the surgeon will be rebuilding the connections between the sidewalls and the septum.

Next, is closed rhinoplasty and is usually done for minor changes. The surgeon can reshape and remove any bone or cartilage. This type of surgery has a short healing time and you won’t see as much swelling.

The next type of rhinoplasty is revision or secondary rhinoplasty which is used to correct any problems that occurred from previous surgeries. Some problems are easily fixed and others are more extensive.

The last kind is filler rhinoplasty which is nonsurgical. The surgeon uses fillers to change the shape of your nose.

Depending on the type of surgery you undergo, you may have a lot of questions post-surgery and you are probably going through a lot of emotions right now. What can you do if you are struggling with this emotional rollercoaster?

Contact your plastic surgeon.

If you have any questions about your surgery, or some concerns about your appearance, contact your nose surgeon. A good plastic surgeon with a track record of success will be able to successfully help you navigate your post-rhinoplasty life. They want you to feel confident about how you feel about yourself and comfortable with your decision to seek rhinoplasty. This discussion will be extremely effective in helping you make your final decision.

How can you manage emotional recovery after rhinoplasty surgery?

To manage emotional recovery post-rhinoplasty, consult with your surgeon for reassurances, gradually resume your daily routine, and consider journaling or sharing your experience to track progress and connect with others who've undergone the same procedure.

Make the most of your healing time.

While you may be inclined to hide from society until you feel your nose looks normal, this isn’t the best way to recover. Once the grogginess from surgery clears, get outside and slowly start your normal routine again. Try doing activities that don’t require you to be too active initially, like going for walks, seeing a movie with friends, and visiting family. Also, being active is excellent for healing time, even if it’s a walk around the block or ten minutes on the treadmill.

Journal about your experience.

Whether it’s a blog or a journal you write in, keep a record of your healing and recovery. It’s a fantastic way to log your progress and any improvements over time. Take photographs of your nose, describe any issues your nose is having, and talk about any difficult (or positive) emotions. Sharing your experience and connecting with others who have gone through this themselves can be an excellent way to recover emotionally from rhinoplasty surgery.

If you are struggling with post-rhinoplasty life, it’s time to regain your confidence again and talk to a nose surgeon who can help you. Dr. Zakhary is trained and experienced with rhinoplasty surgery and has expert knowledge about what follows the procedure. If you haven’t made the decision to pursue rhinoplasty but have personal questions you want to ask, contact Dr. Zakhary to set up your free consultation.