You don’t really realise how vulnerable your nose is to injury until you get rhinoplasty. It’s one reason why so many patients end up asking the same question: I hit my nose after rhinoplasty. Is it okay?
Even if you haven’t ever had any kind of nose surgery, keep in mind that the nose is particularly prone to external injuries. So, when you do have a rhinoplasty, you can imagine how easy it becomes for your nose to get injured, even permanently.
That is why you need to be very careful about all your movements. While this can be slightly nerve-racking, you only need to do this for some time after the surgery. And if your nose is hit anytime before or after that, you need to take some quick action.
What Happens If You Bump Your Nose After Rhinoplasty?
Whether you will damage your nose after rhinoplasty depends on the severity of the injury and how far along you’re in the recovery.
A light bump is usually nothing to worry about. However, if the impact is significant, it can easily injure the nasal structure, especially in the first few weeks after surgery.
Keep in mind that it can take around 6 months for the tissues inside your nose to heal and regain their original strength (although final results take a year or so).
After that, hitting and deforming your nose is no more likely than at any other time.
Also, you’ll have a cast on your nose for a week after the surgery. Its padding may provide some extra protection for a while. But once it comes off, you have to be even more careful.
How Do I Know If I Damaged My Rhinoplasty Results?
It’s possible that you’ve permanently damaged your nose after rhinoplasty if you’re experiencing the following:
- Excessive bleeding
- Severe pain
- Displaced nasal structure
Many people also experience swelling after a traumatic event. However, it’s not always indicative of a deep injury.
The swelling should subside after a couple of weeks. However, if it doesn’t, there may be a fracture, in which case you should inform your surgeon.
What To Do If You Hit Your Nose After Rhinoplasty?
If you bump your nose after rhinoplasty, it’s important to get in touch with your surgeon immediately. They’ll ask for photos of your nose to look for any visible changes (fractures). You may be recommended to massage the nose for a few months.
Although if the nose is deformed, you’ll have to get back to your doctor for either a manual realignment or a revision surgery.
It will depend on the extent and nature of the injury. In this case, an X-ray might also be needed so that your surgeon can see the injured areas underneath the tissues.
In any case, if you’ve hit your nose at any time after your rhinoplasty, make sure to get examined by your surgeon.
How To Prevent Getting Hit On The Nose After Rhinoplasty?
There are certain common scenarios in which people end up bumping their noses. By knowing them, you’d be more careful and might even prevent this from happening.
Sleeping
There are many different ways in which you can end up hitting your nose while sleeping. For instance, it could be due to:
- Tossing and turning
- You pressing your arm/hand on your face
- Someone (including your pet) sleeping next to you hitting your nose
There are different things you can do to avoid each scenario. For one, make sure to prop a few pillows around yourself so that you don’t toss and turn. Besides, it will create distance from someone sleeping next to you.
If that’s not possible, you should consider sleeping alone. And to make sure that your head stays elevated, you could consider lying down in a recliner.
Sports
Injury is always a looming threat when it comes to sports, especially contact sports like football, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, etc.
It’s for this reason that surgeons usually recommend patients avoid contact sports for at least 6 months after the surgery. That’s because the impact is very likely to be significant, enough to injure or even break the nose.
So, to prevent your nose from getting hit, make sure to avoid contact sports for as long as recommended by your surgeon. If it’s not possible for you to do so, try to delay the surgery till the off-season.
Playing With Kids & Pets
It’s very easy to get smacked in the face when you’re playing with your kids or pets (in fact, just being around them can do that). For this reason, as hard as it may be, it’s better if you keep your distance.
And it’s not just children that you need to be careful around. You can also get elbowed in the face by an adult. So, it’s just better if you keep a safe distance from anyone around you to avoid any hit on your nose.
Lifting
Usually, doctors advise against lifting anything for around 6 weeks after rhinoplasty. Of course, a big part of the reason is that it can worsen swelling and cause bruising and bleeding.
But here, there’s also the risk of injury to the face, which is another reason why you should avoid it.
Others
There are other scenarios in which your nose can get hit. For instance, many people drop their phone on their face while they’re using it (it may slip, or you’re just about to doze off).
Other common accidents include hitting your nose on any kind of door (of a refrigerator even). You could also trip on something in your way, especially since looking down can be a bit more difficult with the cast and swelling.
Don’t forget to be very careful about all these things since prevention is always better than hitting your nose and dreading the consequences.
Conclusion
It’s understandable to feel scared if you’ve hit your nose days, weeks or even months after the rhinoplasty. However, as long as the impact is minor, usually, there’s nothing to worry about.
However, if the trauma, accident or injury were significant, the underlying structures can get fractured. In this case, you will have to go back to your surgeon to get your nose fixed, either manually or through another surgery.
Keep in mind, no matter how big or small the bump is, if something like this happens, it’s always a good idea to get in touch with your surgeon.
Reviewed and approved by Prof. Fuat Yuksel.
FAQ
Can I touch my nose after rhinoplasty?
Touching your nose should not cause any damage to it, provided you’re not applying too much pressure. The doctors recommend massages to reduce rhinoplasty swelling, so you’ll have to touch your nose anyway.
Can I blow my nose after rhinoplasty?
You can blow your nose 2 weeks after the rhinoplasty, your nose will be delicate before that, and there is a higher risk of injury. You can, however, sniff back gently without blowing.
Can I sneeze after rhinoplasty?
You should not hold back your sneezes (do it with your mouth open) if they come naturally. That’s because the pressure from holding a sneeze can do more damage.
