Most rhinoplasties are performed under general anesthesia. This is a shallow anesthesia that provides a very rapid recovery. Some rhinoplasties can be performed under local anesthesia.

After rhinoplasty, it is advisable to rest for several hours to avoid fluctuations in blood pressure and reduce the risk of bruising in the operated area. We recommend that the patient spend the first night in the hospital. The next morning, the nasal packing is removed before discharge.

We generally recommend reducing activity during the first 4 days after surgery. From the second postoperative day, we insist on the importance of gradually resuming light activities, such as walking. During the first few days, it is common for facial swelling to occur, which may be evident to people you know. In addition, it is necessary to wear paper plasters and a splint on the nose, which may delay the return to work and social life for 8 to 10 days. However, the ability to lead a normal family life is usually recovered in about 2 days.

From three weeks after rhinoplasty, you can gradually resume sports activities. Between 4 and 6 weeks, you can resume any type of sport, although caution is advised with those activities that carry a risk of receiving a strong blow to the nose.

Preliminary results will be visible after approximately three weeks, but it will not be until the third month when the result will be closer to the definitive one. However, it is important to keep in mind that the nose may experience small changes for several months, and even up to a year after surgery.

There is no established age, the surgeon will assess this intervention once the development of the patient's bony skeleton has been completed.

During your stay in the hospital, it is essential to follow certain care guidelines, such as avoiding physical exertion, not smoking and not blowing your nose. It is important to refrain from strenuous exercise or activity during the first four weeks, as this may cause nosebleeds. Avoid direct sun exposure to the face during the first weeks, as it may increase inflammation, and sauna use is also discouraged. During the first 2 or 3 weeks, avoid wearing glasses, and then use them with caution, opting for lighter ones until one month after surgery. Contact lenses can be used immediately.

You may feel discomfort in the face, but very rarely pain.

The splint is generally used for six or seven days. Afterwards, we will teach you how to apply paper dressings that help reduce the edema and that you should use as long as the swelling persists on the back of the nose. The appearance of the nose gradually returns to normal within a few days.

Risks and complications after rhinoplasty are rare, and we mention them here in order to provide you with complete information, without generating alarm. As in any surgery, there is an anesthetic risk that must be considered when making your decision. For this reason, the intervention is performed in a hospital, where we have the appropriate technical equipment and medical staff to handle any possible complication. The main inconvenience after surgery is nasal packing, which temporarily prevents breathing through the nose due to swelling and accumulation of secretions. However, this discomfort usually resolves within a few days. The possibility of infection, although present in any surgery, is extremely rare in rhinoplasty.