Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, can change your look and give you the nose you've always desired. Whether you're having this procedure to correct the effects of an injury or to modify the nose you were born with, there is some preparation involved. Here are the key things you'll need to do in order to prepare for your rhinoplasty.
Schedule any tests.
Your doctor may want you to undergo a number of blood tests prior to your rhinoplasty. If you are a diabetic, for example, they may want you to have your blood sugar officially tested in order to ensure your diabetes is under control. If you have an auto-immune condition, they may want to check for elevated levels of certain immune cells. Even if you are healthy overall, don't be surprised if your doctor wants to do some basic blood work just to check that everything is in order.
Stop taking pain relievers and blood thinners.
Rhinoplasty is a pretty basic, common surgery, but it is still a surgery, so it involves some incisions. Medications like aspirin and other blood thinners can cause you to bleed too much following the procedure, which will impede clotting and healing. Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking; there is a good chance they will want you to stop taking the meds at least one week before your rhinoplasty.
Stock up on the basics.
You should be able to go to the store, to work, and basically resume your normal routine about three to four days after surgery. (Unless you have a very physical job; then you may need to wait two weeks or more.) However, for those first couple of days, it's really important to rest. The rest gives your body a chance to jump-start the healing process. So before your rhinoplasty, make sure you stock up on the basics you need so you don't need to go anywhere for those three or four days. Include plenty of soft foods. Even though you're having surgery on your nose, not your mouth, you'll find that chewing soft foods is less painful at this time.
Tell people close to you.
In the days following the procedure, you're going to get tired of the questions "what happened to your nose?" and "did you have a nose job?" You can save yourself some headaches my mentioning this preemptively to everyone you see in the weeks leading up to your rhinoplasty. This way, nobody will be surprised when you show up with a bandage over your nose; you won't have to keep explaining yourself.
Follow the tips above to prepare for your rhinoplasty, and don't hesitate to reach out to your surgeon if you have any additional concerns.
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