How Should Skin Care Be Done After Rhinoplasty?

Post-rhinoplasty skin care is a process that requires considerable attention. Proceeding carefully in this regard will help the rhinoplasty process progress more smoothly. In this context, if you are wondering how to continue your post-rhinoplasty skin care routine, you can take a detailed look at our content. We wish you all good reading and healthy days.

The Importance of Post-Rhinoplasty Skin Care

Post-rhinoplasty skin care is not only an aesthetic necessity but also a critical process that directly affects the success of the surgical procedure and the speed of recovery. Therefore, separating the skin of the nose from the bone and cartilage tissue during surgery, followed by days of being covered with bandages and plaster casts, disrupts the natural balance of the skin, leading to oiliness, clogged pores, and sensitivity. Proper and gentle care during this period allows the skin to breathe, helping the swelling go down faster and minimizing the risk of infection. Steps such as sun protection and keeping the stitches moist prevent permanent scarring and allow the nose’s new shape to blend in with smooth, healthy skin. Therefore, the care you show your skin is the final touch that allows the meticulous work your surgeon has done inside to be seen at its best on the outside.

How Long After Rhinoplasty Should Skin Care Begin?

The process of starting professional or comprehensive skin care after rhinoplasty should progress gradually according to the stages of healing. For this reason, during the first week after surgery, the skin should be kept completely protected due to bandages and splints, and no intervention should be made in this area. Starting from the first week after the splints are removed, basic home care can begin using gentle products that do not irritate the skin, do not contain alcohol, and only provide superficial cleansing. However, the end of the second month, when the cartilage and bone structure of the nose is expected to have gained sufficient resistance, is generally the safest time for deep cleansing, professional medical skin care, or vacuum cleansing (such as Hydrafacial) procedures.

It is generally recommended to wait between 4 and 6 weeks before returning to using acid-based peels or powerful active ingredients such as retinol in your skincare routine. This waiting period allows the skin on the nose, which was exposed to trauma during surgery, to repair itself and for sensitivity to decrease. If you have a specific problem such as excessive acne or oiliness, you must obtain approval from the surgeon who performed the operation before starting any treatment, as tissue healing speed varies from person to person.

How Should Skin Care Be Performed After Rhinoplasty?

The most important thing to pay attention to after rhinoplasty is how skin care is performed. For this reason, you need to perform your skin care in 3 stages after rhinoplasty. These stages are: The First 24–48 Hours After Surgery, The First Week (Cast and Bandage Period), and Long-Term Skin Care (1–3 Months and Beyond). In this context, you should perform your care as follows according to each stage:

• The First 24–48 Hours After Surgery

During this period, your focus should not be on cleaning the skin, but on soothing the trauma and controlling the swelling. Since the nose area is completely covered with plaster and bandages, this area should not be touched. To reduce any swelling and bruising that may occur around the eyes, cold compresses can be applied as recommended by your doctor, without wetting the area. The only skin care that can be done is to use a highly moisturizing lip balm to prevent the lips from drying out and to gently wipe the exposed parts of the face (such as the forehead and cheeks) with a damp gauze pad.

• First Week (Cast and Bandage Period)

During this stage, your skin cannot breathe under the bandages, causing increased sebum production and oiliness. However, it is vital that the cast and bandages remain in place and stay dry. Instead of washing your face under the tap, you should clean only your cheeks, chin, and forehead, avoiding the edges of the bandages, using cleansing milk or micellar water. If there is any leakage or crusting at the tip of your nose, you can gently moisturize the area with the solutions provided by your doctor; however, you should not rub or apply pressure in any way

• Long-Term Skin Care (1–3 Months and Beyond)

After the casts are removed, it is normal to see intense blackheads and flaking on the skin. After the first month, with your doctor’s approval, you can start using gentle, water-based moisturizers and alcohol-free toners. Starting in the second month, professional medical treatments (such as Hydrafacial) that do not put pressure on the nose may be preferred to clean the pores. Starting in the third month, as the skin tissue has largely recovered, you can return to your routine peeling and mask applications; however, even during this process, using at least SPF 50 sunscreen should be your top priority to maintain tissue quality.

Common Mistakes in Skin Care After Rhinoplasty

After rhinoplasty, some patients follow incorrect skin care routines. To avoid this situation, you should avoid the following mistakes:

• Trying to squeeze the black spots you see after the cast comes off can damage the healing cartilage and soft tissue, leading to deformity.
• Not protecting the surgical area from the sun causes permanent darkening of the incision scars and skin discoloration.
• Picking at scabs on stitches increases the risk of infection and causes the scar to be more noticeable after healing.
• Using acidic products (AHA/BHA) or grainy peels that exfoliate the skin in the first few weeks can irritate the sensitized skin barrier and trigger edema.
• Hot water dilates blood vessels, causing increased swelling (edema) in the nose and prolonging the healing process.
• Wearing sunglasses or prescription glasses that put pressure on the bridge of the nose at the beginning of the healing process can disrupt the healing angle of the nasal bone.
• Washing your face under the tap before the splints are removed can cause the bandages to become damp, leading to bacterial growth or premature detachment.

What Should You Pay Attention to in Skin Care After Rhinoplasty?

Skin care after rhinoplasty is based on refreshing the skin without damaging the new nose structure. Here are the things you should pay attention to during this sensitive process:

• Keep Bandages and Splints Dry: It is critical that the cast and bandages do not get wet for the first week. Therefore, instead of washing your face, use cleansing wipes or wet cotton without approaching the bandaged area.
• Maximize Sun Protection: The skin is very susceptible to discoloration after surgery. Therefore, use mineral-based sunscreens with at least SPF 50 throughout the healing process (especially the first 6 months) and avoid direct sunlight.
• Gentle, Pressure-Free Cleaning: After the splints are removed, never rub or press on your nose when washing it. Instead, apply a soft, foaming cleanser gently with your fingertips.
• Do Not Squeeze Blackheads: Squeezing blackheads or pimples that form on the nose after the bandages are removed can damage the cartilage structure, which has not yet fully settled. Solve this problem gradually with gentle toners.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: For the first 4-6 weeks, stay away from aggressive ingredients that strip or irritate the skin, such as retinol, high-concentration acids, and granular peels.
• Don’t Neglect Moisturizing: Since the skin on your nose may dry out and flake after surgery, support your skin’s barrier with water-based, fragrance-free moisturizers suitable for sensitive skin.
• Use Lukewarm Water: When washing your face, make sure the water is not too hot; hot water can increase swelling. Always opt for lukewarm or cool water.

If you would like to learn more about post-rhinoplasty care procedures, you can contact the expert physicians at FaceAesthetics, specialists in rhinoplasty in Turkey.