Swelling

Written by Escobar MD  
   

WHAT IS SWELLING? It is your body's reaction to the surgery's aggression. Swelling is, in fact, somewhat necessary for any injury or trauma to be cured.You are going to get surgery, and there is something that I believe is important for you to know about the swelling

Through the increase in blood flow produced by the swelling, the substances that help heal the nose will arrive at the area and do their job in the months following the surgery.

TYPES OF SWELLING We can divide the swelling into 3 types: acute swelling, sub-acute swelling and chronic swelling.
Acute swelling happens on the days immediately after the surgery; let's say that it will be present on the days in which you still have the dressing, and a few days after taking it off. It could be said that once 30 to 45 days have gone by, the swelling should become sub-acute. This type of swelling will last up to 6 months approximately, or it could even be a year, depending on the case. If the swelling persists after one year, we could call it chronic.

Well, once I have explained this, let me tell you something so that you do not worry excessively. The only thing that is uncomfortable about swelling is that it can distort the true shape of the nose. But if the job in the operating room was done well, your real nose will appear sooner or later. There are patients whose swelling goes down very fast and the shape of their new nose is defined really quickly, and there are others who take a lot longer and will consequently worry because they see that the desired results are delayed. This can be influenced by the type of case, the thickness and color of the skin, the type of rhinoplasty (primary or revision), among others factors.

HOW IS IT TREATED? Are you asking yourself if there is any way to speed up the reduction of the swelling? The answer is yes. The main and most important thing is the dressing and the nasal splint on the first 10 to 15 days. The dressing will control the increase in the swelling on the first days, when it tends to be greater. Once the dressing has been taken off, the swelling can increase with any effort or intense physical exercise. Additionally, the heat and the sun tend to cause swelling. This is the reason why it is so important to rest during the first month or month and half, avoiding intense sports, exposure to the sun, or solarium.

Another thing that helps reduce the swelling, if necessary, is a small dressing with micropore on the nasal tip. Why? Because you will notice that the face swells up due to the positions in which you sleep at night, and the same happens to the nose. If the nose was operated, this swelling will be more noticeable in the morning. The dressing will therefore help control this swelling that is caused by the position during the night. We place this dressing only on the tip because it is the area in which the swelling will take the longest to come down, and in cases with thick skin it is completely necessary at least until the 3rd month.

But if the swelling persists in spite of all this, and the nose is not becoming defined with the passing of the months, what should we do? There is a final solution that can be very effective, but that should be the last one to be used. It is the use of subcutaneous corticosteroid injections in minimum quantities; they will help define the tip of the nose. But CAREFUL, only your surgeon can give them to you, and only if they consider that it is convenient. But it is a very efficient solution, if necessary.

HOW DOES IT EVOLVE? That said, do not forget the following information! Swelling sometimes helps cover small defects that can start appearing on the nose when it goes down, and that will condition good results. Therefore, the scarring process in the nose is a dynamic process (i.e., in constant change) that will condition the final results of the rhinoplasty for better or for worse. The final results will depend on how your surgeon treats the swelling, and on how much you pay attention.

All in all, do not distress and be patient if you are one of those patients with thick skin that takes time for the swelling to reduce. Everything will surely be fine in one year, and if it is necessary, we always have the last resource: the corticosteroids. Swelling is somewhat normal, somewhat uncomfortable due to the impatience we feel about seeing the final results, but it will disappear with the adequate care and a good follow-up. You will see how, if you put yourself in good hands, the final results will be the best.

Author: PAULO ANDRES ESCOBAR MD