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What To Do After Rhinoplasty

Finding a skilled and reputable surgeon to perform your rhinoplasty is only half the battle won. Taking the proper precautions to heal is equally important to ensure an optimal outcome. 

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Manhattan, New York and New Orleans, Louisiana. He is considered a highly skilled facial plastic surgeon with expertise in rhinoplasty. Through decades of working with his patients, Dr. Miller knows that educating his patients is a critical step in ensuring the best possible results for them.

Dr. Miller offers a proprietary consultation process called NatraLook which expands the typical plastic surgery experience into a safe, collaborative environment where you can explore your aesthetic confidence. This opportunity allows you and Dr. Miller to create a unified vision for your results and the safest, most natural outcome possible.

Rhinoplasty is an extensive surgical procedure that requires downtime afterward to ensure the nose heals properly. Preparation for the procedure and subsequent recovery will help ensure a smoother healing process. We have a list of some of the most common questions Dr. Miller gets asked about recovery from rhinoplasty to help you begin your preparation for your own procedure.

cosmetic rhinoplasty results in New York City, NY

How to clean my nose after rhinoplasty?

Recovery is more than just taking it easy for a few weeks and just resting at home. You will also need to take care of your nose while it heals by keeping it clean and clear. This will not only aid in proper healing, but will help you feel more comfortable too.

Cleaning should only be done after any packing has been removed from your nose. You may use a Q-tip and hydrogen peroxide to gently clean and disinfect your nose. To remove dried blood and mucus out of the nasal passages, you may use a saline spray to irrigate your nose, clear drainage, and keep it moist. The saline may also help reduce swelling in the area.

When can I wash my face after rhinoplasty?

Washing the face is another step that will help you feel better as you go through your rhinoplasty recovery. Once the tape, splint, or cast is removed, you can wash your face with water and a gentle facial cleanser. Avoid rubbing your face around the nose – instead, pat dry carefully so you don’t disturb the treatment area.

What can I eat after rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty surgery shouldn’t restrict your diet significantly, but there are general guidelines after your procedure:

  • Eat soft, easy-to-digest foods like oatmeal, mashed potatoes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and soup (not too hot) for the first few days.
  • Avoid hard or crunchy food items like apples and carrots that can increase facial movement, or foods like burgers and large sandwiches that require you to open your mouth wide. The idea is to put as little strain on the nasal structure and surrounding tissue as possible.
  • Avoid salty foods which will increase fluid retention in your body and can lead to more swelling.
  • Eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and proteins that will promote wound healing (e.g., berries, leafy greens, beans, nuts and seeds, and poultry).
  • Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself sufficiently hydrated.

How to massage nose after rhinoplasty

Dr. Miller may prescribe gentle nasal massage on the bridge, middle, or tip of the nose to help soften scar tissue, reduce swelling, and promote healing. Always check with your surgeon before performing any physical therapy or massage after your surgery. In general, the pressure of the massage should be firm enough to smooth the swelling caused by fluids but not so hard that it causes pain, bruising, or deformity to your delicate tissues. 

As a general rule, avoid placing any pressure on one part of the nose that causes significant movement in other areas of the nose. You must use your fingers to support the nose to prevent excessive movement during the massage. We will instruct you on how to massage your nose if this is a step we recommend for you during recovery. 

How should I sleep after rhinoplasty?

Your nose will be delicate and malleable after surgery, so it is crucial that you do not sleep on your stomach or side for several weeks. These positions can put unnecessary pressure on your nose, cause discomfort, and also compromise your results. Sleeping on your back, elevated with a few pillows, is the best sleeping position for your first week or two of recovery. This position will minimize fluid buildup and congestion. It is also best to sleep alone to avoid any accidental elbow to the face that may impact your rhinoplasty results.

Experiencing slight disturbances in your sleep patterns is normal. Dr. Miller may prescribe a light sleeping aid or pain medication to help you through the first few nights. 

Why Dr. Miller is a Top Choice for Rhinoplasty in New York

The best way to ensure a positive recovery after a nose job is to follow all of Dr. Miller’s instructions, go into your procedure with realistic expectations and come to all your follow-up appointments. 

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact our New York City plastic surgery clinic today.

Your Most Beautiful Nose: Understanding Your Nose Type

Manhattan, New York, is a diverse city representing many ethnicities. While everyone has a unique nose shape, common ethnic features impact rhinoplasty concerns and ideal outcomes. Rhinoplasty, better known as a nose job, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the nose by:

  • Reshaping
  • Reducing
  • Straightening
  • Removing a hump
  • Refining the tip 

Customizable rhinoplasty solutions are essential to achieve the most natural results, especially for ethnic rhinoplasty patients. Ethnic rhinoplasty is a procedure performed on patients of different ethnicities and can improve the nose while preserving ethnic identity.

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon surgeon with skill, expertise, and an artistic eye. He achieves impeccable and life-changing results for his patients and is highly qualified to perform even the most complex rhinoplasty procedures. He uses a unique approach with ethnic patients as their goals and concerns typically vary from Caucasian patients.

Dr. Miller’s Manhattan office works with many different nose types, including:

African American Noses

African American rhinoplasty is an ethnic reshaping procedure designed with specific and unique characteristics and concerns of African American patients. African Americans tend to have:

  • Wide, low bridge
  • Bulbous, under-projected tip
  • Wide alar base
  • The goal for many African American rhinoplasty procedures is to:
  • Low bridge
Rhinoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, chin implant, and fat grafting for facial contouring of a female patient by Dr. Miller. Treatments bring facial features in proportion to improve the facial contour.

Dr. Miller recognizes the differences in nasal anatomy and can improve the nose while maintaining harmony with other facial features and ethnic heritage. As a skilled and experienced surgeon, Dr. Miller creates natural outcomes and avoids complications common in African American patients, such as keloid scar formation.

Asian Noses

nose job before and after results in NYC

Each ethnicity has a different look and requires a specialized approach to rhinoplasty, including Asian patients. Many Asian patients experience common nose characteristics, including:

  • A flat nasal profile
  • A slight nasal bridge
  • Flared nostrils
  • A wide nasal tip
  • Poor nasal tip strength

Asian patients often want to:

  • Reduce flaring
  • Have tip or bridge implants for a more prominent profile

While Korea is an Asian country, Korean rhinoplasty varies from the approach to Asian rhinoplasty. Korean patients experience a flatter nasal profile, slight nasal bridge, broad nasal tip, and wide nostrils. Without overcorrecting, Dr. Miller can:

  • Narrow nostrils
  • Fix an overly punched tip
  • Correct an over-augmented bridge

Dr. Miller is committed to creating a personalized treatment plan with an approach central to your ethnicity. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Miller can produce natural and beautiful results in his Manhattan, New York location.

Hispanic/Latino Noses

There are more than 52 million Hispanic and Latino individuals in the United States, making Hispanic rhinoplasty an increasingly popular procedure in Manhattan. There is so much diversity within the Hispanic and Latino communities, it requires special consideration for small ethnic groups regarding rhinoplasty procedures. Hispanic patients share common nasal features such as thick skin and a bulbous nasal tip that is difficult to refine with traditional methods. Other categories include:

  • Spanish heritage: a large bridge
  • Caribbean heritage: wide, flat nostrils
  • Central and South American heritage: flatter nasal tips and bridges
Before and after image of a nose surgery in our New York City office.

These differences call for three distinct rhinoplasty procedures:

  • High bridge with a hump: The cartilage is shaved down, and the bone is rasped to remove the hump
  • Under-projected, dependent tip: The tip of the nose is raised and projected with supplemental cartilage
  • Shorter, flatter nose with a broad nasal base, thick skin, and a wide tip: The shape of the nose is refined by narrowing the base and raising the bridge

Dr. Miller works extensively with patients on how to approach the procedure and how to maintain a natural and ethnic-looking appearance.

Middle Eastern Noses

Rhinoplasty to enhance appearance of nose, one week post-op, by Dr. Miller. Surgery narrows and straighten bridge for more aesthetically-pleasing facial contour.

Mediterranean and middle eastern rhinoplasty patients experience common nasal characteristics such as:

  • Thicker facial skin with fattier tissue
  • Longer noses and a higher bridge
  • Droopy tips
  • Nasal humps
  • Asymmetrical nostrils 
  • Wide bones

The goal of middle eastern rhinoplasty is to create:

  • More symmetry
  • Facial balance

Less experienced surgeons may create undesirable results, but Dr. Miller is a skilled surgeon that is knowledgeable about ethnic nose reshaping techniques. He can help create the best nose with ethnic rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty.

Indian Noses

With special techniques and years of experience, Dr. Miller can improve the shape of Indian noses without impacting ethnic identity with Indian rhinoplasty. Common nose characteristics for this ethnicity include:

  • Rounder nasal tip
  • Wider nasal structure
  • Thicker skin on the nose
  • A nasal shape that slopes downward
  • Hump or bump on the nasal bridge

You can schedule a consultation in Dr. Miller’s Manhattan office to discuss all your concerns and identify if Indian rhinoplasty is right for you.

Rhinoplasty to correct the nasal bridge and tip of a female patient by Dr. Miller. After surgery, patient's nose has a more feminine slope and

Other Types of Noses

There are many other ethnic nose shapes such as Greek, Persian and Jewish noses. Greek noses typically have a straight bridge without bumps or curves. It is a common reference as many rhinoplasty patients want a straight bridge for a sleek-looking profile.

A Persian nose has:

  • Large nasal profile
  • Downward sloping of the nasal bridge
  • Bulbous nasal tip

A Jewish nose has:

  • Amorphous nasal tip
  • Over projected nasal tip
  • Large dorsal hump

Getting Positive Results with Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Dr. Miller utilizes the NatraLook® Process to ensure the most natural and pleasing results for any procedure, especially complex treatments like rhinoplasty. The NatraLook Process is critical to achieving a unified vision and executing intended results specific to ethnicity. Evaluating the entire face is vital to achieving balance, beauty, and natural-looking features.  

#1 NYC facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Miller, has years of experience with ethnic patients and has the skills to create natural and ethnically centered rhinoplasty procedures. Contact Dr. Miller’s Manhattan, New York, office to schedule a consultation and learn more about ethnic rhinoplasty.