Question:
I’m one week post op from my rhinoplasty and my nose looks twice its size. The swelling is horrible but I have to return to work and would like to know if there’s anything that can be done to improve the swelling and make it less obvious that I’ve had surgery?
Answer:
Patients that undergo rhinoplasty surgery may swell after surgery. My patients typically do not swell much, as I try to do everything during surgery to avoid swelling. However, this is surgery and everyone reacts differently. At this point there are things that can be done to help reduce the swelling at a faster rate.
I recommend that patients take a medrol dose pack the week after surgery. This is a low dosage of a mild steroid that is very effective at reducing the immediate post-operative swelling. I also recommend that patients drink plenty of pineapple juice after surgery. This juice has many nutrients and minerals that help to reduce swelling. Patients that undergo surgery with me are started on high dose vitamin C (2000mg a day) for two weeks before surgery and two weeks after surgery. All of these work together to help relive post operative swelling.
Posted by Dr. Bustillo