PREPARING FOR THE PROCEDURE: RHINOPLASTY

PREPARING FOR THE PROCEDURE:

One week off of work is recommended to recover from rhinoplasty surgery.

It is recommended that you purchase thick cover-up make-up prior to your procedure. In some instances this may be useful to camouflage bruising or redness after surgery.

On the business day prior to the operation we ask you to call to confirm your arrival time for surgery.
Do not bring valuables (cash, credit cards, watches, jewelry, etc.) on the day of rhinoplasty surgery. Remove all makeup and nail polish before arriving for your procedure.

It is essential that someone be available to drive you home, and that person is able to spend the evening of surgery with you. It is California law that every patient be monitored for a period of twenty-four hours following surgery. This person does not have to have any nursing experience, just an interest in your welfare. While you spend the day at rest, your helper will fix soft food for your lunch and dinner, assist in applying the cold compresses to your eyes, walk you to the bathroom and just be near if you should require anything.

You may not eat or drink after midnight the evening before the rhinoplasty procedure unless instructed otherwise. This includes all food, liquids, water, candy, mints or gum.

MEDICATIONS

At your preoperative appointment you will provided with all of the instructions for you to follow before and after rhinoplasty surgery. During this appointment you will also be given all of the prescriptions necessary for the recovery period. It is recommended that you fill these prescriptions prior to the date of surgery. We will also ask you to obtain an antibiotic ointment and saline spray for use following rhinoplasty surgery.

Please avoid any aspirin, aspirin-containing products, or ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, etc.) for one week prior to and two weeks following your rhinoplasty surgery. See our “Medication List” for products to avoid prior to and immediately following rhinoplasty surgery. If you are on any medications that affect bleeding (such as coumadin or warfarin) please notify the office immediately.

Please avoid herbal supplements for 10 days prior to surgery, including and especially fish oil, ginseng and garlic.

We ask that you remain on your daily medications unless instructed otherwise. At the preoperative rhinoplasty appointment, you will be told which daily medications to take with just a sip of water on the morning of surgery.

POST OPERATIVE RHINOPLASTY MEDICATION CHECKLIST

1. Antibiotic (Keflex, Clindamycin)
2. Pain reliever (vicodin, percocet)
3. Medrol Dose Pack
4. Nasal saline spray: purchased over the counter
5. Antibiotic ointment: purchased over the counter
6. Hydrogen peroxide: purchased over the counter
7. Arnica (a natural herb that significantly decreases bruising): purchased over the counter

AFTER RHINOPLASTY SURGERY

After rhinoplasty surgery your nose will be packed with soft nasal packing. The packing will be removed the morning after surgery.

The nasal packing will prevent breathing through your nose so you will have to breathe through your mouth. Your mouth will become very dry. Please drink as much fluid as you can which will help you from becoming dehydrated. Drinks at the bedside along with a humidifier (cool or warm) may help.
You will have a gauze drip pad placed beneath your nose. Change this as needed for the first 24 hours following rhinoplasty surgery. It is not uncommon to change this every 15 minutes for the first several hours following rhinoplasty. If you completely saturate the pad with bright red blood every five minutes, please call your surgeon at the numbers provided.

The cast must remain on your nose for one week after rhinoplasty surgery. It must be kept dry or it could become loose. Notify Dr. Kolstad immediately if the cast falls off.

Activity

Sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows. Sneeze with your mouth open and do not blow your nose of sniff for seven days after your rhinoplasty procedure. Absolutely no bending, lifting or straining. If you have little children, bend at the knees or sit on the floor and let them climb on to your lap. Ensure that care is taken to keep the cast dry while bathing is important.

Diet

Advance diet from liquids to soft food to your regular diet as tolerated. In the immediate rhinoplasty postoperative period, avoid extremely hot liquids or foods if you experience temporary numbness on the roof of the mouth.

Ice

During the day and evening of surgery, cold moist compresses are used continuously over the eyes to minimize swelling and control bruising. Puffiness and bruising can occur but if present usually regresses quickly over the next few days. There are several techniques for icing which are effective. The glove with ice and cool compresses are the preferred methods. Icing for 24-48 hours is recommended, icing after this period can be used for comfort. See video on right.

Breathing:

Invariably, there is some nasal stuffiness during the week after surgery. The external edema (swelling) is reflected internally, but the mild blockage will improve steadily. it is imperative to avoid extensive manipulation inside of the nose. DO NOT BLOW THE NOSE. DO NOT USE NOSE DECONGESTANT DROPS (AFFRIN).

Pain:

Discomfort following rhinoplasty is usually limited to the two or three hours just after the procedure. It may best be described as a headache. The prescription for pain tablets that you have received is more precautionary that necessary, but please have it filled and available at your home bedside. Take pain medicine with milk to avoid any stomach upset. Most patients switch to extra strength Tylenol on the first day of recovery.

Medications

Most patients complain of pressure from swelling and congestion more than pain. Use pain medication (most commonly Vicodin/hydrocodone) as directed/as needed. Vicodin contains Tylenol. Do not take additional Tylenol or acetaminophen while taking Vicodin.

Do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication.

Side effects of pain medications can include nausea and constipation. Taking pain medication with food can minimize nausea. Over-the-counter laxatives are indicated if constipation persists.
Start your antibiotic (Keflex/Cephalexin) when you arrive home following the rhinoplasty procedure. During your rhinoplasty surgery you received antibiotics through your IV. Take antibiotics as directed until gone.

Start the prescription for swelling medication (most commonly Medrol Dosepak/methyl prednisolone) when you arrive home following rhinoplasty surgery.

The evening following packing removal, start using the ointment (most commonly polysporin/bacitracin) two times a day (morning and evening) inside the base of each nostril. Insert only the cotton part of the Q-tip into your nose. Ointment is applied after the morning and evening saline rinses.

Please Remember!

Nasal congestion, facial fullness, headache and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative symptoms for rhinoplasty and will decrease as the healing process occurs. It is not uncommon to have numbness on the roof of the mouth (palate) behind the front teeth. Therefore avoid extremely hot liquids or food in the immediate rhinoplasty postoperative period.

AFTER THE FIRST WEEK:

Nasal Appearance:

At the time of nasal splint removal, you will have your chance to see the new nose. It will appear quite swollen but, in most cases, even in this swollen condition, the improvement can be appreciated. It takes time for the skin and soft tissue to adhere to the new framework. During your postoperative visits Dr. Kolstad may use medicines to help contour the shape of your nose.

Final results following rhinoplasty are not apparent for one full year following surgery. After three months, the changes are ever so subtle, although still important. Being perfectionists about our work, you may tell us you are pleased long before the one year anniversary. However, we request that you follow-up with us at that time for postoperative rhinoplasty photographs and so that we can enjoy your final result.

Nasal Exercises:

In most cases you will be requested to begin nasal exercises after the rhinoplasty cast is removed. These exercises help reduce the swelling in your nose and should be continued for three weeks after surgery. You will be instructed on how to perform these during your visit. Nasal exercises should be performed two to three times daily for two minutes at a time. Please remember to alternate using your right and left hands. See video to the right.

Activity

Sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows for three weeks after surgery. Three weeks after surgery you may resume full activity without medical restrictions. It is advised that you resume your work-out regimen slowly, as your body may fatigue a little easier than usual.

Wearing Glasses:

You should not wear glasses for at least one month. If glasses must be worn, taping the central bridge of the glasses to the forehead will allow as little pressure as possible on the nasal bones.

Sun Exposure:

Your skin should be protected from sun exposure for at least six months after surgery. A sunburn will cause the nose to swell dramatically and delay the final result. Sun avoidance or protection with a hat is preferred. You may begin wearing sun block three weeks after surgery. Factor 25 sun block with both UVA and UVB protection.

PREOP / POSTOP CHECKLIST

BEFORE SURGERY CHECKLIST

Preparing for the Procedure:

1. Call to confirm your arrival time for surgery.
2. Do not bring valuables on the day of surgery.
3. Arrange a friend / family member to observe you for 24 hours after surgery.
4. You may not eat or drink after midnight the evening before the procedure.
5. No smoking for 1 week before and 3 weeks after surgery.
6. Purchase thick cover-up make-up prior to your procedure.
7. Medications: avoid (Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Alieve) unless advised to continue by your doctor. Inform office if you are on coumadin / warfarin, plavix, or other blood thinner.
8. Medications: confirm which of your daily medications to continue the morning of surgery.
9. Medications: fill your prescriptions before the day of surgery. Typical medications are found below.
10. Over the counter items: arnica, hydrogen peroxide, saline nasal spray, Qtips, ice packs.

General Post operative Medication Checklist

1. Antibiotic (Keflex, Clindamycin)
2. Pain reliever (vicodin, percocet)
3. Medrol Dose Pack
4. Nasal saline spray: purchased over the counter
5. Antibiotic ointment: purchased over the counter
6. Hydrogen peroxide: purchased over the counter
7. Arnica (a natural herb that significantly decreases bruising): purchased over the counter

AFTER SURGERY CHECKLIST

Immediately after the procedure

1. You must meet nursing criteria for discharge home; walking, voiding, talking.
2. Your nose may have small packings inside the nostrils. These control any bleeding after surgery but may partially obstruct your nasal breathing.
3. Confirm your appointment with the office, always on the morning after surgery.

The First 24 Hours

1. Wound care: cleaning the sutures with a Q-tip dipped in saline water and then apply the antibiotic ointment (polysporin/bacitracin) twice a day.
2. Activity: sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows. No strenuous activity / aerobics / yoga / heavy lifting for 3 weeks after surgery.
3. Bathing is ok as long as you don’t get your incisions wet for a minimum of four days after surgery.
4. Advance diet from liquids to soft food to your regular diet as tolerated.
5. Cold compresses are used continuously over the forehead to minimize swelling and control bruising (30 minutes on, 15 minutes off) for the first 48 hours after surgery.
6. Medications: use pain medication as necessary. You can have a maximum of 8 tablets of vicodin + Tylenol in a 24 hour period (6 vicodin + 2 Tylenol = 8, ect).
7. Medications: Start antibiotic (Keflex/Cephalexin) when you arrive home and feeling ok to take medicine.
8. Medications: Start Medrol Dosepak/methyl prednisolone when you arrive home and feeling ok to take medicine.
9. Medications: Start the nasal saline spray 1 day after surgery.

One Week After Surgery

1. Make-up can be started 1 week after surgery to camouflage any bruising or redness.
2. Nasal exercises can be started when instructed and should be performed for three weeks after surgery.
3. Avoid sun exposure for three weeks after surgery, then use sun block.
4. The tip of the nose and sometimes the front teeth will be numb to touch following surgery. This will improve in the first few weeks to months after surgery.
5. Swelling, bruising and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative symptoms and will decrease as the healing process occurs.
6. Differential swelling may asymmetries of the right and left sides of your nose. As the swelling goes away, so will these asymmetries. Please be patient.

Rhinoplasty Before and After Surgery Instructions

Forms require Adobe Reader – Click here to download for FREE if needed