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Bruising After Rhinoplasty: What to Expect, Timeline & How to Reduce It

Bruising after rhinoplasty is a common worry among patients considering nose surgery and we receive a lot of questions regarding this.

In our vast experience, the majority of our rhinoplasty patients will experience minimal to no bruising at all.

Even those who do experience any bruising can expect to return to work 7 -10 days after surgery when the nasal splint (plaster) is removed.

However, it is a side effect that can happen due to surgeon error, certain medications, or other factors.

Learn more about the reasons for bruising, how long will it last, and what you can do about it!

What causes bruising after a nose job?

We believe that the most important factor in minimising any potential bruising is down to your choice of the rhinoplasty surgeon. The more experienced the surgeon, the less chance of extensive bruising and swelling.

A top rhinoplasty surgeon will be aware of all the details discussed in this article and will pay attention to all of them. This is something that only comes with experience.

Apart from the specialist, there are also a number of other factors that can influence the likelihood of bruising:

The exact type of nose surgery

The bulk of nasal bruising occurs when your surgeon is making amendments to your nasal bone i.e. bridge shaving or nasal profile narrowing.

There is a blood supply to your nasal bone called the periosteum, which when disrupted during changes to your nasal shape will result in additional bruising around the eyes and sometimes down to your cheeks.

This often occurs when the surgeon has to make a micro breakage in the nasal bone to narrow the width of the bridge, and the surgeon ends up cutting through the periosteum that covers the lower and upper surfaces of the nasal bones.

female patient with bruised eyes

By always taking the extra time to elevate the periosteum when it is necessary to cut the nasal bones, we are able to minimise the trauma and thereby reduce your bruising.

Age

Older patients often have more fragile blood vessels and can lead to more bruising after rhinoplasty. This is generally an age range from 45 years onwards.

Bleeding disorders

If you or any family members have any history of excessive bruising or bleeding after procedures or in general, it is important that you discuss this with your surgeon so proper testing can be carried out.

Smoking

Smoking restricts the body’s ability to clot after incisions are made and this leads to a slightly prolonged recovery. The longer the recovery, naturally the longer your bruising will take to disappear.

Medications

If you take medications that thin the blood, it is important for you to discuss this with your surgeon who can then make proper arrangements accordingly.

What to Do Before Surgery to Minimise the Chance of Bruising?

Here are some tips on how to reduce the chance of getting black eyes after a nose job:

  • Avoid blood-thinning medication where possible.

You should avoid taking medications that can thin the blood for at least two weeks before the surgery.

The medications must not be resumed until after your doctor tells you that it is safe to do so.

Some of the medications to avoid include ibuprofen, aspirin, and other anti-inflammatory drugs.

  • Avoid herbal tablets including vitamins and minerals before the procedure.

In the case of bruising after rhinoplasty, there are several ways to reduce the swelling and bruising.

Patients should avoid taking a high dosage of herbal remedies, multivitamins, or tea that contain high levels of Ginseng, fish oils, Ginko, and Vitamin E.

These can affect the general anaesthesia in surgery and have an effect immediately on how your body starts to recover from the procedure.

Post Rhinoplasty Bruising Timeline and Stages

Most patients who experience bruising after their nose job will see it disappear after 7-10 days.

That’s when the nasal cast is removed by your nursing team. At this point, any bruising has turned from a dark colour into a yellow pigment or completely disappeared.

It may take longer if you are someone who bruises easily, if you are an older patient or if you are a smoker.

How to Reduce Black Eyes and Minimise Healing Time?

If you notice bruising following your nose surgery, here are some tips to follow. Try these to reduce the time it takes to make it disappear.

  • Follow the recovery guidelines our team has given to you. The post-operative instructions for your nose job are very important. Follow them closely and contact us if you have any questions or concerns along the way!
  • Apply Ice packs, or even better, frozen peas, to the cheeks for the first 2 days after surgery. Cold packs naturally freeze the progression of swelling and bruising, so patients often never see the purple bruised skin and have a more yellow tint to their bruising. Yellow pigment on the bruising is considered the final stage of discolouration before fully healing.
  • Keeping your head elevated can help reduce swelling and may also decrease bruising. This is important on the first few nights of rest after surgery and you may want to practice sleeping you’re your head elevated and completely on your back for a few nights before your surgery.
  • Herbal supplements such as Bromelain and arnica may be of benefit. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples and some patients eat fresh pineapple for a few days before surgery. Alternatively, Bromelain can be purchased as a tablet in most health shops.
  • Arnica tablets are a homeopathic preparation and have been known to help with the body’s response to bruising. Generally, we advise the dosage of 30C tablets taken three times a day, starting 7 days before your rhinoplasty procedure.
  • In addition, it may also be beneficial to apply arnica cream under the eyes after 48hours of the rhinoplasty procedure to further speed up the bruising recovery.

More Rhinoplasty Questions?

Berkeley Square Medical is one of the leading nose clinics in London, UK. To learn more about the consultation, prices, and the types of nose reshaping we do visit our London rhinoplasty page.

FAQ

How bad is bruising after a nose job?

Most patients who have nose surgery done by a reputable and experienced facial plastic surgeon do not see any bruising.

Of those who get black eyes, the majority will see it gradually fade and disappear in about 7-10 days after the procedure.

There are a few that experience severe bruising, usually caused by one of the risk factors mentioned above.

How long does it take to look normal after rhinoplasty?

This depends on the type of rhinoplasty as well as how well the patient heals in general.

Patients whose surgery was performed with a closed rhinoplasty technique can regain their normal appearance after as little as 10 -14 days.

Patients with an open rhinoplasty or a more complicated revision surgery will take longer to heal, generally around 3-4 weeks before people can’t notice that surgery was performed.

The full and final result of a nose job usually takes around a year to 16 months to appear

Sanjay Rai

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Sanjay Rai

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