Rhinoplasty Bruising Timeline
Rhinoplasty (nose job) corrects nasal imperfections and brings greater balance to the face. Rhinoplasty can improve the size or shape of the nose, as well as correct blemishes such as humps or dips along the nasal bridge. The procedure offers impressive results, but it requires a lengthy recovery with post-surgical side effects.
One potential rhinoplasty side effect is bruising. Since bruising is such a visible condition, Dr. Michael C. Cohen’s Orange, CA, and Placentia, CA, patients are often eager to learn how long bruising will last. Let’s go over the typical rhinoplasty bruising timeline that patients can expect following their surgical procedure.
The Day of Your Rhinoplasty Procedure
Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure, meaning that it does not require a hospital stay. Following a brief recovery period at our surgical center, patients can be driven home by a friend or family member. Immediately following rhinoplasty, patients are likely to feel tired and a little uncomfortable. Their nose will probably be packed and bandaged, which can take awhile to get used to. Aside from the bandaging, patients are not likely to notice any changes to their appearance, or any visible side effects of rhinoplasty, such as bruising.
Days One Through Three of Rhinoplasty Recovery
The day following rhinoplasty treatment, side effects will become more obvious. Patients will probably notice that the nose and surrounding facial features appear swollen. Bruising may also be visible at this time. Rhinoplasty bruising typically develops under the eyes, rather than around the nose, so patients may have the appearance of black eyes.
Bruising is usually pretty light on the first day of rhinoplasty recovery, but may become darker on days two or three. This early stage of rhinoplasty recovery is when patients can expect bruising to be most severe.
Days Four Through Seven of Rhinoplasty Recovery
Between days four and seven of rhinoplasty recovery, any bruising that has developed should gradually begin to lighten. Most of our Orange patients notice that bruises heal just a little each day, with marked improvement by the end of the first week of rhinoplasty recovery.
It is very important that patients carefully follow all post-surgical care instructions. Proper aftercare promote healing and helps alleviate bruising and swelling.
Other tips for reducing bruising and swelling include:
- Apply ice packs to the cheeks and under eye area
- Keeping you head slightly elevated when resting
- Refrain from smoking
- Avoid certain medications and supplements
One Week After Rhinoplasty
In most cases, bruising is resolved or nearly resolved by a week after the rhinoplasty procedure. Around this time swelling and discomfort should also be markedly improved, so that most patients are ready to return to work and other routine activities.
If any bruising remains at this point of the healing process, it should be light enough that it is easily concealed with concealer and makeup.
Contact Our Facial Plastic Surgery Center
If you would like more information rhinoplasty, we encourage you to reach out to Dr. Cohen. You can send us a message online at your earliest convenience, or call our practice at (714) 628-1313 to set up a personal consultation.
