Staying Positive During Your Rhinoplasty Recovery

Staying Positive During Your Rhinoplasty Recovery

So you finally went out and did it—a rhinoplasty operation that will give you the cute nose you’ve dreamed of for as long as you can remember. Needless to say, you went into surgery feeling nervous, but mostly excited for the new nose that you’ll be seeing soon. However, this excitement began to fade as you looked into the mirror a day or two after your surgery. In fact, if you’re currently in the middle of your rhinoplasty recovery, then it’s safe to say that you’re probably feeling not-so-great. As someone who has done years of research on rhinoplasty and as a two-time rhinoplasty patient myself, I know for a fact that the weeks and months after rhinoplasty surgery can be quite a struggle for most patients. If you’re feeling down because your swollen and bruised face looks far from what you were expecting, then the tips below should help you stay positive during your recovery.

Know what to expect after surgery:  As mentioned, I have gone under rhinoplasty not once, but twice. So I think this makes me some type of “expert” at being a rhinoplasty patient. I’ve also realized that knowing  what happens during recovery can keep you from getting depressed and stressed after the surgery. For example, for days after the surgery, my nose swelled to almost twice its size. Not only that but I also had a pretty bad bruise under my right eye for weeks. Now because of my research (and first rhinoplasty experience), I knew that these things were to be expected. If I didn’t, I would’ve definitely freaked out! Knowing that your recovery is going normally can certainly keep you calm and positive.

Learn the virtue of patience:  “Patience is a virtue” is an age-old phrase that you’ve probably heard time and again. But if you’re presently recovering from a rhinoplasty operation, you’ll want to keep it in mind all the more! In fact, I suggest writing it in your mirror to remind yourself everyday. I have talked to dozens of rhinoplasty patients and have joined multiple rhinoplasty forums. I noticed that one of the top reasons why rhinoplasty patients get upset during recovery is because of their impatience. They check their reflection every five minutes, expecting to see the results they desire and then they become upset when they don’t. Remember that the FULL results of rhinoplasty can take almost a year to become visible. On the bright side, you’ll start looking good in photographs in about three months after surgery.

Keep yourself preoccupied:  When your nose is swollen and your face looks like it’s been used as a punching bag, it’s easy to just spend the entire day feeling sorry for yourself. However, this is also a sure-fire way to negatively affect your recovery. Accept the fact that your body needs time to heal and that there is nothing you can do about it—except to keep yourself preoccupied in the meantime. I myself started watching a good TV series to keep my mind off my recovery. You can also do other things like read books, start a blog, invite friends to your home and such. Once your swelling and bruising goes down significantly, it’s also recommended that you get back to your everyday life. Within weeks after my surgery, I was actually running errands and even shopping at Trader Joe’s. Trust me—the sooner you start getting back to your usual routine, the faster time will fly and the sooner. Before you know it, you will wake up one day and see that cute nose you’ve always wanted in the mirror.