After any plastic surgery, there is a period of recovery before you can return to your everyday activities.
This period is especially important when it comes to facial surgeries due to the delicate tissues involved.
So if you have recently undergone a rhinoplasty, or nose job, when is it safe for you to resume your regular exercise routine?
Rhinoplasty is one of the most common types of plastic surgery. It’s often done to restore or repair the form of a person’s nose, which can improve their appearance and breathing capabilities.
Recovery from a rhinoplasty depends on many factors, including how extensive the procedure is and how well you follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions.
Resuming normal physical activity after a rhinoplasty treatment can be tricky. Even though exercising has several benefits like endorphin release and improved metabolism, it may also cause complications during this delicate recovery period.
Related: Questions to Ask Your Surgeon Before Rhinoplasty
To make sure your healing process goes as smoothly as possible, here are some key points to help guide you through the process.
After rhinoplasty, you should start exercising again.
Risks of Exercising Too Soon After a Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that is becoming increasingly popular.
Many people want to get back to their normal routine as soon as possible following the surgery. However, there are many risks of exercising too soon after a rhinoplasty.
Here are some key points on why you should delay your workout until you are fully recovered.
Increased Risk of Internal Bleeding
During a rhinoplasty procedure, anesthesia is used and the soft tissue in the nose is detached from the bone, which can increase your risk for internal bleeding.
Exercising too soon after your procedure can worsen any existing internal bleeding that has not yet healed and put extra strain on already fragile tissues.
Inflammation and Swelling Lasts Longer
Engaging in any form of physical activity can increase inflammation in the area. This swelling often does not go away until several weeks after the surgery, when normal activities can be resumed.
If your doctor has advised you to rest for several weeks post-surgery then it is best to follow this recommendation to ensure proper healing time.
Irritation of Incision Sites
Regardless of whether a closed or open rhinoplasty was performed, there will be incisions made which will take time to heal completely.
If a patient engages in exercise before these incisions have had enough time to heal properly, there is an increased risk of infection.
During rigorous physical activity, bacteria may come into contact with open wound sites.
In this way, the stitches may become weakened and cause further complications as well, such as scarring or deformation of the nose after the surgery.
Delayed Recovery Time
Engaging in exercise too soon after undergoing a rhinoplasty increases recovery time drastically, as it places an unnecessary amount of stress on the area once all swelling has subsided and healed properly, which could interfere with the adequate healing process.
Adequate rest following your rhinoplasty procedure allows minor side effects to subside faster – allowing you to get back to feeling like yourself sooner rather than later, including headaches and fatigue.
A Typical Timeline for Exercising After Rhinoplasty
A properly performed rhinoplasty should also be aesthetically pleasing and provide improved breathing as well.
Recovering from a rhinoplasty, however, does take time – as your body adjusts to its new shape and structure you must limit strenuous activities such as exercise.
To achieve a full recovery with minimal risks it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to returning to physical activity after surgery.
The First Two Weeks
For the first two weeks following your rhinoplasty procedure, activity should be kept light and gentle.
Generally speaking, this means avoiding any type of physical exercise whatsoever, even light exercises such as walking or yoga.
It is also strongly advised to keep heavy lifting out of the picture during this period by avoiding items weighing more than 5 pounds altogether.
Two – Four Weeks Post Surgery
At around two or three weeks post-surgery, you may start incorporating light cardio exercises into your routine – but before beginning, talk with your surgeon about which exercises are permitted.
You will still want to avoid overstraining yourself during this period, so keep moderately paced activities in mind such as fast walking or biking on flat terrain; jogging is not recommended yet at this stage of post-operative recovery.
Four Weeks and Beyond
At four weeks post-rhinoplasty surgery it is possible to start increasing your activity, but your doctor should still be your number one priority.
During this period, more intense exercises that require collaboration between various parts of your facial musculature become available again, such as running and open-water swimming (under supervision).
Weight training can be done at low intensities (3 sets per muscle group, 12 -15 repetitions) as long as no pressure is directed toward the nasal area itself. Use only machines/weight systems and avoid isolated movements as much as possible.
Finally, with five weeks onward comes overall freedom in terms of exercise selection which includes running up hills, jumping rope, playing sports etc; even contact sports (with protective gear) can be okay depending on what regions were operated on during surgery.
Six or More Weeks Post-Rhinoplasty Surgery
After the surgery, you should expect some swelling and bruising around the eyes for up to six weeks or more. You will be instructed on how to carefully and gradually clean your nose.
Additionally, it is key that the patient does not exercise too vigorously or participate in activities such as swimming for at least two weeks after the procedure.
You must also wear nasal dressings for a minimum of one week following the procedure and avoid breathing through your mouth for two weeks post-operation. Following these guidelines can result in a successful recovery from rhinoplasty surgery.
Recovery After a Rhinoplasty: Don’t Jump Into Exercise Too Quick!
Everyone who undergoes rhinoplasty is distinct, and a full recovery can take multiple months and sometimes even a year.
Even after six weeks, the nose is especially delicate to bumps and jolts which could cause harm.
Hence, before playing any contact sports, it is important to gain authorization from your doctor. If you plan on taking part in high-impact games like football or soccer, make sure to get fitted for a proper face mask that can be worn for a long period of time as your doctor tells you to.
Jumping back into activities too soon can jeopardize the progress you’ve achieved. Even though it can be tempting to rush the healing process, give yourself the time and respect to take care of your body while it recovers.
Contact us at Sadeghi Center for Plastic Surgery to know more about our services!