Is the internal structure of your nose affecting your ability to breathe when you sleep on your back? Do you feel self-conscious about the symmetry or size of your nose? Have you recently injured your nose while playing sports? If so, you may be considered a good Rhinoplasty New Jersey candidate at the office of Dr. Gregory E. Rauscher, M.D. in Hackensack, NJ. However, you must be able to follow all preparation and post-op care instructions. Here’s what you need to know.
What Should You Do Before and After Rhinoplasty New Jersey?
Stay Hydrated
Both before and after your nose job, it is vital that you remain hydrated. It is important to be hydrated when you come in for your procedure because your blood pressure may be too low if you are dehydrated. It is essential that you are hydrated after your procedure because it will facilitate rapid healing.
During your initial consultation, we will advise you on the ideal anesthesia method for your unique case. If you get local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, you will not need to fast prior to your procedure. On the other hand, if general anesthesia is ideal for you, fasting is required. You won’t be able to consume food or dark liquids for eight hours pre-op, and you won’t be able to have clear liquids, including water, for two hours pre-op.
Refrain From Tobacco Consumption
It is also vital that you do not consume tobacco products before or after your procedure. Consuming products that contain nicotine prior to your procedure can elevate your blood pressure significantly. If you smoke once your procedure is over, your blood pressure can increase too much, and your recovery will take longer than it should.
Skip Certain Supplements
Furthermore, refraining from taking certain supplements prior to and following your procedure is very important. For example, you should not take fish oil supplements or vitamin E supplements prior to or following your procedure to ensure your blood does not thin too much. Similarly, you should refrain from taking any blood-thinning drugs, like NSAIDs, in the days leading up to and following your operation.
Wear Sunscreen
Both before and after rhinoplasty New Jersey, it is extremely important that you avoid sun damage. The UV rays emitted by the sun weaken the collagen in the foundational layer of your skin. They also impede your skin’s ability to produce new collagen. Therefore, if your skin is damaged by the sun after your procedure, your recovery will take longer than it should. Also, it is important that your skin is not irritated at the time of your procedure.
What Should I Avoid After Rhinoplasty?
Sleeping in the Wrong Position
It is very important that you avoid putting too much pressure on your nose after your nose job. For this reason, it is crucial that you do not sleep on your stomach or side following your operation. If you don’t usually sleep on your back, you may want to practice sleeping on your back before your operation. You may find that you need to make certain adjustments, like buying a fairly firm mattress pad, to help you sleep comfortably throughout the night.
Wearing Glasses
If possible, avoid wearing glasses after your procedure. If you can’t wear contacts and need your glasses to read, consider listening to audiobooks to keep yourself entertained. If there are circumstances under which you can’t avoid wearing glasses, talk to your optometrist about getting eyeglasses with lighter frames. Just remember that you should wear your glasses as little as possible.
Blowing Your Nose
You should also avoid blowing your nose after rhinoplasty. If your nostrils are itchy, use a saline nasal spray to ease the internal itchiness. If you don’t want to buy nasal spray from your local pharmacy, you can make your own. Just make sure that you boil the water used to make the solution and let it cool if you don’t have distilled water on hand.
Drinking Alcohol
Furthermore, it is vital that you do not drink alcohol after or before your nose job. The primary reason that alcohol should be avoided before and after your procedure is that it affects your blood pressure. It also dehydrates you and causes your body to flush out vital micronutrients. Making sure you get your RDA of vitamins and minerals after your procedure is an essential step to a rapid recovery. Also, you need to eat enough protein to heal as quickly as possible.
Exercising Excessively
It is crucial that you avoid exercising too much after your nose job to ensure you don’t sweat excessively and you don’t elevate your blood pressure too much. Moderate exercise is okay.
The Bottom Line
If you’re in the Bergen County, New Jersey area and worried about the size, shape, or appearance of your nose, you may be considered a good candidate for rhinoplasty in New Jersey. However, you won’t be considered a good nose job candidate if you can’t follow all preparation and post-op care instructions, like staying hydrated and not smoking. Contact us today at the office of Dr. Gregory E. Rauscher, M.D. in Hackensack, NJ to schedule your initial consultation and learn more.