Rhinoplasty recovery: What to expect?

nobody told me I was supposed to be doing massages either........

jadecrane3 said:Yeah, and honestly, it’s not even my upper or lower lip that feels swollen—it's just that I can't smile normally! Mostly because I still can't move my nose at all... I'm not even sure if it's just those medical tapes holding it in place or if my face is just totally numb right now. Can you guys actually move your noses? Like, do you feel anything, or can you even manage a normal smile yet??

As for the "aftercare," they just told me to rinse the inside with cold chamomile tea using a Q-tip... but is it actually helpful to put chamomile compresses on the outside too?? Will that make the swelling go down faster?

They took my cast off seven days ago, and I'm only just starting to feel like I can laugh a little harder without it feeling weird.
At first, I was constantly fidgeting with my nasal splints, but now I can finally wiggle my nose—you know, that little scrunchy face when you're annoyed? I'm doing it constantly now! It felt like my whole face was frozen solid for a hundred years, so I probably looked like I had random facial tics for a while. 🤣

I am so confused about this chamomile stuff. I kept putting compresses on my nose all day long and noticed the swelling starting to subside, but then I read online that people whose swelling goes down don't even use them. I don't know—sometimes it feels like it's smaller when I *don't* use the compresses, and then when I hold them on for a long time, it feels like it's puffing back up. Or maybe I'm just imagining things! At least the compresses helped wash away the leftover residue from the cast.

jadecrane3 said:Nobody told me I was supposed to be massaging anything either...

And even if I were to try—I honestly have no clue what I'm supposed to be working on! I can't even touch the tip of my nose without it feeling super weird... just this dull, nagging ache...

And which surgeon did you go with for the procedure?

Kimberly Robinson55 said:And even if I tried massaging it, I wouldn't even know where to start. Touching the tip of my nose feels super weird... just this dull ache...

I don't bother with chamomile... honestly, the swelling's going down on its own anyway. One more day won't make much of a difference at this point...
I'm totally lost on why I should massage it... something about getting blood flowing through the skin? She showed me how—from the tip down to the base of the nose... pretty intense, right up to the point of pain, several times a day...🤷

Kimberly Robinson55 said:I’m not blowing him out anymore... he actually gave me some drops from the pharmacy that really work.
But why do you have to massage him? He didn't mention anything to me, I just read somewhere that it prevents lumps forming???? Is that what it's for?

For the first few days, I was using paraffin oil and drops... but not anymore. Now I just blow it out several times a day, though not dry—I use a syringe to spray in some saline first... apparently that's good practice anyway, even for people who haven't had surgery. It works for me, I can totally see the difference in what was coming out of my nose a few days ago versus now... there isn't much blood lately, just more normal mucus... although, the whole "regulation" thing isn't quite 100% back to normal yet..

lonemason10 said:I don't even bother with chamomile... honestly, the swelling is going down regardless! At this point, whether it takes one more day or not doesn't even matter to me.
And I have no clue why people suggest massaging it—I think it’s some skin thing about circulation? Someone showed me a technique, moving from the tip down to the base of the nose... hard, too—like, right up to the point of pain—multiple times a day. 🤷

Ugh, that's seriously starting to get on my nerves—why can't any of these doctors talk the same way? Mine didn't mention oils, solutions, or anything about blowing it out—and like I said before, he never mentioned massage at all. Look, I'm not exactly fragile, but I seriously cannot handle pressing from the tip (which is super swollen) down to the base. 🙂

Kimberly Robinson55 said:Ugh, honestly, it’s driving me insane... why can't any of these doctors just say the same thing? Mine didn't mention anything about oil, or saline, or blowing my nose, and like I said before, zero mention of massage. I'm not exactly a wimp, but seriously, I can't even touch from the tip—which is all swollen—down to the bridge without it hurting...🙂

Yeah, everyone tells you something different... mine's a bit of an oddball, though. Most people go to him because their noses are a complete wreck or some surgeon totally botched them, and he's basically fixing other people's mistakes. But man, props to him, I've never met anyone who talks about noses with so much heart... he treats every nose like a masterpiece...🙏

Honestly, it's probably best to just stick to what our own doctors recommended, even if it's different... though that paraffin oil is just meant to prevent scabbing inside, it's not really "nasal drops" in the traditional sense, so it shouldn't hurt at all.

Which doctor did you see? And are you doing the cleaning? Ugh, that part hurts... yikes...😱

So I finally peeled off the bandages, and honestly? I feel totally weird about myself!!! Like, from the profile view, everything looks fine, but when I look at myself head-on... I don't even know... it just doesn't feel like me. It's super strange. And okay, maybe a tiny bit—just a tiny bit—but I look a little piggish. (Just to be clear, my surgeon told me the tip would drop, and one of my girlfriends actually agreed with him.)

I’m not sure what age group most of you fall into—it’s a different world at different stages of life—but I am personally struggling with how to break the news to my family about an upcoming surgery. I’m only 23, and since I’m paying for the procedure out of my own pocket, I should technically be independent; however, I know full well there is going to be a massive argument once they find out. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this with minimal friction? I want to get through this without the unnecessary drama—parents tend to overreact and spiral into worry regardless of the circumstances.

jadecrane3 said:So, I finally took the bandages off, and honestly? I feel so weird!!! From my profile, everything looks totally fine, but when I look at myself head-on... I don't know... I just don't feel like myself right now. It’s such a strange feeling... and also—just a tiny bit—I feel like I have a little breakout on my nose (mind you, my doctor told me the tip would settle down, and a friend of mine said the same thing).......

DON'T PANIC! When I took my bandages off, I was a crying mess for two whole days—plus my eyes were super swollen from the tape 😛 and a friend told me the swelling would go down, and it did... slowly but surely...

Kimberly Robinson55, I was just sitting here scrolling back through some of your older posts, and I noticed you mentioned wearing that cast for two whole weeks. That sounds like an incredibly long stretch to me—was that a plaster cast or something else?

I really hope I'm not being a nuisance by asking, but could you please let me know how much time has passed since then? Also, does your nose feel totally normal now, or is there still some lingering swelling?

Laura Castillo7 said:I don't know how old you guys are, but I have no clue how I'd tell my family I'm getting surgery. I'm 23 and paying for it myself, but I still know there's gonna be a fight about it. Anyone got advice on how to make this less painful? My parents are just gonna freak out, you know how old people get about this stuff.

Look, I'm 24 and I paid my own way too... my folks actually took it pretty well because they knew my nose has always been an "eyesore" (well, more like an eyesore to everyone else, haha). Anyway, just like most parents, they told me I didn't need it and that the whole process is such a headache (my mom actually had surgery for a deviated septum once), but if it's something I truly want, then go for it... though they did warn me not to stop there, like, don't end up wanting breast implants or lip fillers or whatever next... but seriously, my advice? Just tell them you've done your homework, looked into the procedure, and that it's not some huge scary thing. Maybe suggest your mom comes along to the consultation with you (mine came with me), and just explain that this is something you really, really want. Tell them it would make you happy. Like, you know it won't fundamentally change your entire life or anything, but it'll make you feel better and more confident in your own skin...

Kimberly Robinson55 said:DON'T WORRY, when I finally got those bandages off, I was a total mess and cried for two days straight—my eyes were so swollen you wouldn't even recognize me😛 and my friend told me the swelling would go down eventually, and it is... just slow, you know? Like, super slow...

I gotta say, you actually kind of cheered me up just now, so thanks for that... seriously, because I was basically one step away from a total breakdown until I stumbled onto your post... but man, am I happy with how things look right now? I mean, sure, the profile is fine, but the rest? NOPE!!! It looks weird, totally flat, just way too wide... I'm just sitting here waiting for everything to deflate and for that peak to finally drop—ugh, like, when is that ever gonna happen?!☕

jadecrane3 said:I have to admit, you really cheered me up just now—thanks for that! Honestly, I was already on the verge of tears before I read your post... but I’m still not totally happy with the results. The profile looks fine, sure, but from the front? NOPE!! It feels weird, kind of blunt and wide... I'm just dying for the swelling to go down and for the tip to taper—ugh, when is that actually going to happen?!☕

To be honest, I have no clue when yours will finally settle down. I took my cast off exactly 8 days ago and there's still some swelling—the top part has flattened out, but the tip is still puffy and feels a bit wide. But hey—today was the FIRST TIME I went outside without a headband (just after dark!) and nobody stared at my nose. Even though, of course, I felt like everyone knew! 😁
My friend actually headed back to campus for classes just two weeks after getting her cast off!

Sophia Hill22 said:Kimberly Robinson55, I was just scrolling through your old posts and noticed you mentioned wearing that splint for two whole weeks. That feels like forever—was it plaster or something?

Sorry if I'm being a pest, but please tell me how long it's been now and if your nose looks normal or if there's still some swelling?

It felt long! But honestly, maybe it’s because they were constantly adjusting it—or maybe just to make sure I didn't accidentally bump it during that week.

Ugh, I seriously can't deal with this right now. I look in the mirror and I just hate my nose—it’s actually disgusting. Like, what was I even thinking? I look like some weird creature straight out of a Grinch movie or something. It's pathetic. I try to tell myself it’ll be fine once all this swelling finally goes down, you know? Just trying to stay positive. But then I start spiraling... like, give me a break. What's the worst that could happen? Is it actually possible that if it doesn't improve, it'll end up looking like something else entirely? And how does the tip even drop? Like, does it just decide to sink on its own? When does that even happen?! Seriously.

Look, you really need to hang in there and be patient with yourself—it’s only been eleven days, after all. Things are bound to improve as time goes on. Honestly, what exactly did your doctor tell you during the last check-up?

Sophia Hill22 said:Just hang in there, man. It’s only been 11 days, things will get better... what did the doctor actually tell you?

ugh, I know... I mean, I knew there’d be some swelling, but I honestly thought even my worst swelling couldn't look this bad—and my dad had a nose like a wrecking ball, so that's saying something. But 😢the doctor didn't really say much to me. My sister was the one helping me get the splint off, and she told me not to stress about the tip looking lifted, said it would settle down eventually. But with all those bandages on, I didn't realize just how swollen everything actually was... not until yesterday when I finally peeled the bandages off myself. I’ve got a follow-up at the clinic in two weeks, so I guess I'll just wait and see what happens by then...

Yeah, and one more thing: I keep seeing all over the internet that you aren’t supposed to blow your nose for a while... but my surgeon never actually mentioned anything about that... so I’ve just been blowing my nose, though I don't squeeze it too hard... like, I just hold a tissue up to my nostrils and let it go... is that still a bad idea?? seriously, if I can't do that, how am I even supposed to deal with all this junk building up in my nose?!🤷