Some minor aches and pains aside, the first post-rhinoplasty week can be quite hard. With a cast on your nose, and short-term bruising and swelling in cheeks and around eyes, you may feel like hiding indoors is your only option.
Below is the list of seven things you can do to make sure you feel good in the first week after the procedure.
1. Prepare in advance
It’s beneficial for you to do some pre-planning in the weeks before your surgery. Make sure you know what to expect and have all the essential items like drugs prescribed by your doctor on hand. Besides, getting a bunch of books, films, and magazines will help you feel entertained and engaged and can make that first week following the surgery more manageable.
2. Avoid being inactive
Most likely you feel too weak to do much in the first few days after the surgery. However, you’ll soon feel good enough to participate in some moderate activities like walking, cooking, and even visiting your family or friends. Try resuming a light routine right after you feel better to avoid being depressed and help boost your recovery.
3. Get outside
While any vigorous activity is strongly prohibited, a light walk will help your rhinoplasty recovery. If you’re anxious about people seeing your cast, try wearing some glasses, a cap or hat, and a scarf wrapped around your neck to disguise yourself. Besides, having a few friends with you will also help soothe your anxiety. Remember that keeping your activity level light is essential to avoid any complications in the early stages of recovery.
4. Exercise safely
Plenty of time is essential for your nose to heal, meaning it’s best to take it easy and avoid strenuous exercises. Instead, try light walking during the first week following the procedure. If you’re a workout buff who never misses a day at the gym, try enhancing your exercise routine before the surgery to balance things out. A few extra minutes on the treadmill will surely not hurt your body.
5. Try yoga or stretching
Numerous websites offer plenty of free online yoga classes and routines to keep you busy during recovery. Or you can simply get a stretching DVD in advance to help yourself stay active. Make sure the exercises you perform aren’t strenuous and don’t require you to hang your head upside-down. Otherwise, they can interfere with your healing. You can ask your surgeon if you’re uncertain whether or not performing any yoga or stretching exercises is safe for you.
6. Play catch-up
Whatever’s been on your bucket list, a full week of rhinoplasty recovery is a great opportunity to take care of your work or personal things. However, avoid any vigorous activities like training for a marathon or gardening. Being homebound has its benefits when it comes to getting certain tasks done.
7. Keep a dairy
Documenting your rhinoplasty journey in a diary, blog, or even a vlog is a perfect way to keep yourself busy and stay on track with your goals. Try tracking things like bruising, swelling, and energy levels daily. And if you decide to share your entries online, it may help you connect with other individuals going through rhinoplasty recovery.
The bottom line
If you’re planning to get a nose job, consider following the aforementioned tips to help keep yourself active and entertained during your recovery. Remember that light activity like walking or stretching can help reduce swelling, alleviate muscle soreness, and keep you regular. Also, always follow your surgeon’s recommendations and ask him or her for advice if you’re unsure whether any activity is safe for you.
I am Amelia Grant, journalist, and blogger. I think that information is a great force that is able to change people’s lives for the better. That is why I feel a strong intention to share useful and important things about health self-care, wellness and other advice that may be helpful for people. Being an enthusiast of a healthy lifestyle that keeps improving my life, I wish the same for everyone.