Rhinoplasty in Chicago

Before Surgery

You will undergo a nasal examination after scheduling your rhinoplasty. This will allow our plastic surgeon to understand your anatomy. Medical conditions like diabetes or hypertension must be well-controlled before surgery can proceed.
Blood-thinning medications like aspirin, coumadin, Motrin, Plavix, and Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) should be stopped 10 days before surgery. Try to avoid alcohol and tobacco during this time, as these substances can impede your body’s healing process.

Day of Surgery

Before the procedure begins, we’ll administer anesthesia. We usually use general anesthesia, though we use local anesthesia sometimes. The rhinoplasty procedure typically takes 1-2 hours.

During the surgery, our surgeon will make small, inconspicuous incisions either inside your nose or under the tip of your nose. Next, our surgeon will make the necessary alterations to your nasal structure. This may involve adjusting:

• Bones
• Cartilage
• Skin
• Soft tissue

After the alterations are complete, we close the incisions with thin, dissolving sutures to minimize scarring.

After Surgery

After your surgery, proper care is essential for optimal healing and results. You’ll need to rest and avoid exertion for the first few days. You should also:

• Sleep with your head elevated
• Keep your nasal splint clean and dry
• Apply cold compresses to your forehead
• Wear a pad under your nose for a day or two to mitigate drainage

The initial recovery period typically lasts about 2-3 days, but you should expect some bruising for 7-10 days after the procedure. We advise against wearing makeup until the bruising has completely disappeared.

While you can usually resume normal, non-strenuous activities after a couple of days, it’s important to avoid any activities that could result in contact with your nose for several weeks. If you wear glasses, you’ll need to wait a few weeks before wearing them on the bridge of your nose again.

Long-Term Results

It’s important to understand that the full results of your rhinoplasty may not be immediately visible. Residual swelling, especially at the tip of the nose, can persist for some time. Depending on your skin quality and healing process, you can expect to see your final results anywhere from 6 to 12 months after the surgery.

One of the great benefits of surgical rhinoplasty is the longevity of the results. Barring significant changes to your body type, such as severe weight loss or gain, the results of your rhinoplasty should last a lifetime. This is in contrast to non-surgical procedures like fillers, which require periodic maintenance to maintain their effects.