Crow’s feet are caused by small muscle contractions that occur when you make a facial expression. Are you worried about the little lines spreading out from the corners of your eyes? You’re not alone. Crows feet eyes are a common concern among adults. Crow’s feet are caused by small muscle contractions that occur every time you make a facial expression, among others. Crow’s feet are caused by small muscle contractions that occur every time you make a facial expression, among others. But there’s hope. There are many treatment options for crow’s feet including surgical and non-surgical procedures. You can also take some steps to slow their development down. In this article, I’ll discuss the causes, prevention, and treatment of crow’s feet. Common Causes of Crow’s Feet To identify the right treatment for you, knowing what causes crow’s feet is a must. Aging is the most common cause of crow’s feet around the eyes. 1. Aging Aging is one of the most common causes of fine lines and wrinkles under eyes. Simply put, your skin acts like fabric. When you’re young, collagen keeps it as elastic as possible. Over time, decreases in collagen levels make your skin susceptible to fine lines and wrinkles when stretched. A once elastic fabric becomes less elastic. Combine this natural process with the thin skin around eyes, and you get crow’s feet. 2. Genetics Genetics determine how we look as we age, including the onset of crow’s feet. Due to genetics, signs of ageing hit Caucasians worse than African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. In particular, Caucasians are more prone to having crow’s feet compared to African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. Crow’s feet also appear earlier on Caucasians than African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. 3. UV Rays Collagen is a major component of connective tissues and the most abundant protein in the body. In addition, collagen is responsible for keeping your youthful appearances and skin structure. Unfortunately, UV (ultraviolet) rays break down collagen. It also causes free radicals that further damage your skin. Decreased collagen levels and other skin damage caused by UV rays lead to crow’s feet. 4. Facial Motion Repetitive facial movements like squinting can cause crow’s feet. Repeated facial expressions can cause crows feet eyes. Whenever you smile or squint, the area around your eyes crease. Over time, these tiny folds accumulate and turn into crow’s feet. Since expressions are a part of our daily lives, facial motion eventually leads to crow’s feet. 5. Smoking Smoking is closely related to your skin’s health. For starters, smoking exposes your skin to oxidative stress, a process that decreases your body’s ability to detoxify harmful substances. As a result, your body becomes less capable of fighting harmful substances. This damages your skin and leads to crows feet eyes. 6. Alcohol Alcohol is another substance that can lead to crow’s feet. Specifically, alcohol dehydrates your skin by taking out the fluid on your skin. Because of this, your skin becomes prone to crow’s feet. In addition, alcohol can cause you to age faster. This makes your crow’s feet and other skin damage more prominent. 7. Unhealthy Lifestyle An unhealthy lifestyle is another factor leading to crow’s feet. Think about this: people who exercise, eat a healthy diet, and sleep properly look younger than those who don’t. It’s because taking care of yourself leads to healthy skin. The healthier your skin is, the less susceptible you are to crow’s feet. 8. Eye-Related Issues Eye-related medical problems can cause crow’s feet. Medical issues, particularly those involving the eyes can cause crow’s feet. In particular, patients who squint to see clearly usually suffer from nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). They might also suffer from a more serious condition like astigmatism or presbyopia. This is common among people aged 40 or higher. 9. Stress Extreme stress not only messes with your mind. It messes with your skin, too. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol or the stress hormone. Cortisol can break your skin’s collagen and elastin. As a result, crow’s feet appear. Chronic stress can also speed up the ageing process, making your crow’s feet more noticeable. 10. Weight Change While not as prevalent as other factors in this list, weight loss and gain can cause crow’s feet. As you gain weight, the skin on your face stretches. When you lose weight, it snaps back. As the process gets repeated, your skin becomes less elastic. Consequently, your crow’s feet don’t bounce back. It becomes more permanent. How to Prevent Crow’s Feet There are things you can do to slow down the appearance of crow’s feet. You can take some steps to make your crow’s feet less visible. Take note that these steps can also be used for prevention, but not treatment. 1. Protect yourself from UV exposure. The sun is the ultimate source of UV radiation. UV rays break down the collagen in your skin, so avoiding it is a must. The best way to avoid the sun is staying indoors during midday. Avoid going out when the sun is at its hottest. If you have to go outside, use an umbrella. Put on dark sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat to protect your eyes and avoid squinting. In addition, don’t forget to apply sunscreen with SPF 35 or higher. Apply it generously to all exposed skin at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating. This is a must because the sunscreen gets rubbed off by moisture. If you’re staying outside for a long period, reapply sunscreen every two hours. Indoor tanning is another source of UV rays. Indoor tanning can be harmful, especially if you’re young. It can prompt the onset of skin damage including crow’s feet. It also increases your risk of skin cancer. 2. Make some lifestyle changes. If you’re smoking, it’s time to quit. Smoking not only increases your chances of having lung cancer. It also damages your skin. Smoking exposes you to free radicals that are harmful to your skin. The more you smoke, the more your skin suffers. If you’re drinking alcohol excessively, it’s time to cut it down. Alcohol not only damages your liver. It damages your skin, too. Alcohol dehydrates your skin, leaving it more prone to skin damages including crow’s feet. Drinking at least two servings of alcohol per day is dangerous. If you’re not sleeping enough, it’s time to get at least 8 hours of high-quality sleep each night. Your body needs time to repair itself every day through sleeping. When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, your skin suffers. As a result, you get fine lines and wrinkles. Making the lifestyle changes I mentioned above can effectively reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and other skin issues. 3. Address excessive facial motion. Facial expressions are a part of human communication. Smiling, frowning, and squinting every day is normal. However, if you do certain facial motions excessively, you must address it. There might be certain factors that cause you to frown or squint excessively. To start with, you must know why you’re doing an expression excessively. For instance, if you squint too much daily, you must visit a doctor. Excessive squinting can be a result of an eye-related problem such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. It can also be related to a more serious, undiagnosed eye problem. Hence, it is wise to have your eyes checked or your glass prescription updated. 4. Wisely deal with stress. Stress negatively affects your body, including your skin. In particular, it affects the proteins that help you skin youthful and supple. In addition, stress makes you do facial expressions (e.g. squinting, furrowing your brow) that can lead to crow’s feet. However, stress is a normal reaction to a situation where you feel anxious or threatened. While no one can completely avoid stress, you can learn how to cope with it. Learning healthy ways to cope can help reduce your stress levels. There are simple yet effective steps you can take to cope with stress. To begin with, breathing exercises can help. When you’re feeling stressed, sit down and close your eyes. Take deep breaths. Repeat this until you calm down. Distracting yourself by doing certain activities also helps. For instance, you can cook your favorite meal to stop thinking about what stresses you out. Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember that no one is perfect. Accept that you cannot control everything in life. However, you can control how you react to what life throws at you. 5. Know the root cause of your crow’s feet. Consult with your doctor to determine the severity and best treatment for your crow’s feet. From ageing to sun exposure, there are many causes of crow’s feet. However, a self-assessment is not as accurate as a consultation with a doctor. Knowing the root cause of your crow’s feet helps determine the best treatment for you. In particular, a thorough consultation with your doctor will reveal how your age, genetics, and other factors contributed to your crow’s feet. It also determines the severity of your crow’s feet. Remember, you can do self-assessment and read every reference there is about crow’s feet, but nothing compares to a personal consultation. Every patient is different, and that’s why I encourage everyone to get a consultation before treatment. Crows Feet Eyes Treatment There are many ways to treat your crow’s feet. Here are non-surgical and surgical options that you might consider for treatment. anti-wrinkle treatment anti-wrinkle treatment is most effective for people with dynamic wrinkles, including crow’s feet. anti-wrinkle treatment smooths out lines and wrinkles caused by repetitive facial movements. It does this by preventing your muscles from contracting. As a result, the appearance of crow’s feet is reduced. anti-wrinkle treatment is most effective for people with dynamic wrinkles, including crow’s feet. Dynamic wrinkles are among the least noticeable types of wrinkles. They usually appear whenever facial movements are made. They are not usually noticeable when the face is at rest. In addition, anti-wrinkle treatment works best for people whose crow’s feet are just starting to develop. anti-wrinkle treatment is injected into the affected area using a small needle. This makes the area’s muscles relax. Then, anti-wrinkle treatment prevents the muscles from contracting. It instantaneously reduces the appearance of crow’s feet. Over time, it can cause them to disappear entirely if administered properly by a skilled physician. Laser Resurfacing Laser resurfacing removes the upper layer of skin to reveal newer, younger-looking skin. Laser resurfacing is a modern way to treat crow’s feet. This procedure removes the upper layers of skin to reveal newer, younger-looking skin. Laser resurfacing works well for crow’s feet because it heats up several layers of skin to promote collagen production. Increased collagen production helps the skin around your eyes heal and become smooth. In particular, the procedure involves a laser wand focused on the face. In my clinic, we use a special technique and technology to accurately target your problem areas. Laser resurfacing tightens your skin. It can make you at least 10 years younger if done properly. However, laser resurfacing may not completely eliminate crow’s feet. This is why I usually advise my patients to get laser resurfacing along with other procedures to get the best results. Dermal Fillers Dermal fillers add volume to your eyes and smoothen your crow’s feet. Dermal fillers are administered via injection. They add volume to your eyes and smoothen your crow’s feet. This crows feet eyes treatment is done by injecting a small needle with hyaluronic acid (HA) in the affected area. A dermal filler procedure lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes, with instantaneous results. It’s crucial to choose an experienced specialist, as the positioning of the needle is crucial. After two weeks, you can return to the clinic for a post-treatment checkup. If you and I feel that more is needed, you can have more dermal fillers. I always follow a conservative approach with dermal fillers. It’s because fillers can always be added but not easily taken away. However, dermal fillers are only a temporary solution to crow’s feet. Results can last for up to two years. After this, you have to go through the procedure again. Blepharoplasty A complete blepharoplasty procedure enhances your eyes’ overall appearance. Blepharoplasty is more commonly known as eyelid surgery. This crow’s feet treatment is a permanent solution to your problem. There are two kinds of blepharoplasty― upper blepharoplasty and lower blepharoplasty. Upper blepharoplasty is done on the upper eyelid. The procedure involves making a small incision to remove and reposition the fat. On the other hand, lower blepharoplasty is done on the lower eyelid. The procedure also involves making a small incision to remove and reposition the fat. A complete blepharoplasty procedure enhances your eyes’ overall appearance. Thus, I always advise my patients to consider the whole procedure for best results. Based on my experience, one of the main concerns of patients planning to have blepharoplasty is the presence of scars. My trans-conjunctival technique solves this. I use this technique to conceal the scars on the natural creases around your eyes. This technique keeps your eyelid’s shape and produces more natural results. In addition, I use sedation anesthesia. This causes faster recovery than traditional anesthesia. Due to this, my patients recover within 30 minutes after the treatment. Many of them even go back to work or school on the same day. Blepharoplasty done in my clinic can last for a lifetime, without the need for fillers. Conclusion Crow’s feet are caused by different factors involving ageing, repetitive facial movement, smoking, and UV rays. Thanks to modern medicine, crow’s feet can be treated. However, blepharoplasty is the most effective treatment because it is long-term. At my clinic, you don’t have to get fillers after the surgery. The procedure is minimally painful as well. Do you want to get rid of your crow’s feet? Book a consultation today!

You can get rid of under eye wrinkles through surgical and non-surgical procedures. As you get older, things change. One of the most dreadful changes? Under eye wrinkles. Eye wrinkles are common among ageing people because the skin loses its elasticity over time. Additionally, the skin under the eyes is thin. This makes people susceptible to having fine lines under the eye. However, under eye wrinkles can be treated. You can get rid of them for good through cosmetic procedures― both surgical and non-surgical. There are also a few things you can do to slow down their progression. In this article, I’ll discuss the causes, types, prevention and treatment of under eye wrinkles. Common Causes of Under Eye Wrinkles From ageing to sleeping habits, there are various causes of under eye wrinkles. Proper prevention and treatment of under eye wrinkles involves knowing what causes your under eye wrinkles. 1. Aging Aging is the top cause of fine lines and wrinkles under eyes. As you age, your skin becomes less elastic. Your under eye is prone to wrinkling because the periorbital hollow― the hollow part under your eye ― is covered with thin skin. Thin skin with less elasticity means more under eye wrinkles. Genetics also determine how early the signs of ageing will hit you. For instance, Caucasians are more prone to ageing than African Americans and Asians. 2. Smoking Smoking is another common cause of under eye wrinkles, next to ageing. For starters, smoking exposes your skin to oxidative stress. Extra oxidative stress lessens your body’s ability to detoxify harmful substances. As a result, your body becomes less capable of fighting free radicals. This damages your skin, leading to under eye wrinkles and fine lines. 3. UV Rays The sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause under eye wrinkles. Collagen makes your skin supple. It is vital in keeping a youthful look. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation breaks down collagen. UV rays also prompt the formation of free radicals, which damage your skin’s elastic fibers. Unprotected sun exposure is the main cause of UV rays. Sunless tanning beds can also expose you to harmful UV rays. 4. Facial Movement Repetitive facial expressions such as frowning, smiling, and squinting can cause fine lines to develop around your eye. It’s because facial movements make the area around your eyes crease. Over time, minor creasing accumulates. The more you do something over time, the more it has a tendency to stay that way. Since we express ourselves daily, repetitive facial motion eventually leads to under eye wrinkles. 5. Sleeping Habits Surprisingly enough, your sleeping habits cause wrinkles. If the same facial muscles are pushed against a pillow each night, your skin loses its ability to go back to its original place. Hence, sleeping with your face buried in your pillow can cause under eye wrinkles. Types of Wrinkles There are four main types of undereye wrinkles caused by various factors. Aside from determining what causes under eye wrinkles, it’s also important to know what type of under eye wrinkles you have. 1. Gravitational Folds Gravitational folds are usually caused by ageing. As you age, gravity naturally takes its course. This causes your tissues to gradually deflate. As a result, your skin folds and droops. In particular, gravity causes your skin to lose some of the attachments to the fascia. The fascia is composed of connective tissue, primarily collagen, found under the skin. The fascia stabilizes and encloses your muscles. Once the attachments are not strong enough, your skin starts to fold and droop. Examples of this are under eye wrinkles and droopy eyelids. 2. Dynamic Wrinkles Dynamic wrinkles are usually caused by repetitive facial motion. When you smile or frown, the muscles under your skin contract and expand. These cause temporary lines. As you repeat these expressions, the lines become deeper and more permanent. Dynamic wrinkles usually develop between your brows, forehead, and the area around your eyes. 3. Static Wrinkles Static wrinkles are usually caused by UV rays and smoking. As its name suggests, static wrinkles are visible even when your face is at rest. Static wrinkles are more permanent compared to dynamic wrinkles. Over time, dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles. Static wrinkles appear due to skin damage caused by loss of elastic fibers and low collagen levels. These processes are prompted by UV rays and smoking. In addition, static wrinkles are usually found under your eye and on your cheeks, upper lip, and base of your neck. 4. Compression Wrinkles Compression wrinkles are usually caused by poor sleeping habits. This type of wrinkle is the most recent category to be discovered. As its name implies, compression wrinkles are a result of compressing your face against a pillow while you sleep. At an early stage, compression wrinkles usually disappear during the day. However, they can become permanent if you don’t treat them soon. How to Prevent Under Eye Wrinkles You can prevent under eye wrinkles by closely following some tips. You can slow down the progression of under eye wrinkles if you start protecting your skin at a young age. Here are some tips that can help prevent under eye wrinkles. Take note that these steps are for prevention, not treatment. 1. Avoid UV rays. UV rays expose you to free radicals, so you must avoid it as much as you can. The best way of avoiding the sun is staying indoors during midday, or when the sun is at its hottest. If you’re stepping outside, use an umbrella. Putting on dark sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat also helps. Doing either of them protects your eyes and prevents you from squinting under the sun. In addition, you must avoid indoor tanning. It is particularly harmful for young people. Those who start indoor tanning during early adulthood are prone to skin damage and skin cancer. 2. Always put sunscreen on. Always use sunscreen with SPF 35 or higher to avoid under eye wrinkles. Put your sunscreen on every day, whether you are going out or not. As a rule of thumb, you must use sunscreen with SPF 35 or higher. Generously apply it to all exposed skin 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply the sunscreen after swimming, sweating, or drying off your skin. This is a must because the sunscreen gets rubbed off by water. If you’re outside for a long period, reapply your sunscreen every two hours. 3. Use the right products according to your skin’s condition. There are many anti-ageing products in the market. The best products to prevent wrinkles? Those that boost your collagen levels. Products with hyaluronic acid (HA) are the best for people who are starting to see signs of ageing. The moisturising and collagen-boosting effects of HA effectively helps slow down the appearance of under eye wrinkles. I can attest to HA’s effectiveness as it’s a component of the dermal fillers used in my clinic. 4. Change your sleeping habits. A poor sleeping position can cause compression wrinkles. I highly encourage you to sleep on your back. It’s because sleeping on your side or face is a breeding ground for wrinkles. While we’re at it, make sure to get at least eight hours of high-quality sleep each night. Make sure that there are no distractions that can wake you up in the middle of the night. Sleeping at a certain time each night also helps. 5. Quit smoking. Smoking is one of the main causes of under eye wrinkles. Like UV rays, it exposes you to free radicals that damage your skin. Hence, it’s best if you quit smoking. I know that the process won’t be easy, but I assure you that it is worth it. Patients who quit smoking not only prevented further skin damage. They also became physically and mentally healthier. 6. Drink enough water every day. Drink at least eight glasses of water each day to avoid under eye wrinkles. Hydrating your skin from the inside is just as crucial as hydrating it from the outside. As a rule of thumb, drink at least eight glasses of water every day. Avoid sugary drinks such as soda, sports drinks, and artificial juice. Remember, skin that is hydrated retains its elasticity. Plus, well hydrated skin keeps its shape despite decreased collagen levels. 7. Cut the alcohol down. If you are drinking at least two servings of alcohol per day, it’s time to cut it down. Alcohol affects any mucous membrane― from the skin to the liver. It takes the fluid out of your skin, leaving it prone to damage. In addition, drinking makes you look older. A person drinking for 20 to 30 years has more wrinkles compared to someone with the same age who doesn’t drink. 8. Avoid stress. Stress can make your skin less elastic. It’s because it can affect the proteins that help keep your skin supple. Repeatedly frowning and furrowing your brow can also lead to wrinkles. Hence, it’s best to avoid what’s causing you to frown and furrow your brow. When you’re stressed, try using healthy coping mechanisms such as watching a movie, reading, or cooking. How to Treat Under Eye Wrinkles Under eye wrinkles can be treated through non-surgical and surgical treatments. Tear Trough Fillers: Non-Surgical Option Tear trough fillers are a non-invasive treatment for under eye wrinkles. Tear trough fillers are gel-like substances injected under your eyes. These dermal fillers add volume to your eyes. By doing this, wrinkles and other damages under your eyes disappear. This under eye wrinkles treatment is done by injecting a needle with hyaluronic acid (HA) in the tear trough― the crease between your upper cheek and lower eyelid. The tear trough becomes more evident as you age. It’s also a breeding ground for puffiness and under eye wrinkles. Thus, treating this area can effectively treat eye wrinkles. The procedure lasts for 10 to 15 minutes, with instantaneous results. It’s vital to choose an experienced specialist, since the positioning of the needle is crucial. After two weeks, you can return to the clinic for a post-treatment checkup. If you and I feel that more product is needed, you can have more fillers injected. I always take a conservative approach with dermal fillers. It’s because fillers can always be added but not easily taken away. However, tear trough fillers are only a temporary solution to under eye wrinkles. Its results can last for up to 2 years. Blepharoplasty: Surgical Option Blepharoplasty is a surgical treatment for under eye wrinkles. Blepharoplasty is more commonly known as eyelid surgery or under eye wrinkle surgery. There are two types of blepharoplasty― upper blepharoplasty and lower blepharoplasty. Upper blepharoplasty is done on the upper eyelid. A small incision is made in the area to remove and reposition the fat. On the other hand, lower blepharoplasty involves under eye wrinkles surgery. The procedure removes tissue and repositions it on your lower eyelid. While lower blepharoplasty is for the under eye, it is ideally done along with upper blepharoplasty. It’s because a complete blepharoplasty procedure enhances your eyes’ overall appearance. One of the main concerns of patients planning to get blepharoplasty is the presence of scars. The trans-conjunctival technique solves this. I use this technique to hide the scars on the natural creases around your eyes. This technique also keeps your eyelid’s shape. Additionally, I use sedation anesthesia, which causes faster recovery compared to traditional anesthesia. Due to this, all of my patients recover within 30 minutes after the procedure. Some of them even go back to work or school on the same day. Blepharoplasty in my clinic can last for more than 10 years, without the need for fillers. Conclusion A thorough consultation is needed to determine the right under eye treatment for you. Under eye wrinkles can be treated by using tear trough fillers or blepharoplasty. Both are effective treatments for under eye wrinkles. However, the right treatment depends on your goals, genetics, and medical history. If you don’t want to go under the knife, a tear trough filler treatment is for you. If you want more permanent results, blepharoplasty is for you. Take a look at my patients’ under eye wrinkles before and after photos to see what my treatments can do for you. Want to know which under eye wrinkle treatment is the best for you? Book a consultation today!

Knowing how long does a nose job take to heal allows you to manage your expectations and look forward to seeing results. If you plan to have rhinoplasty soon, you must know how long does a nose job take to heal. It helps you determine how much time you need to take off work or school for your recovery. Recovery time depends on various factors, such as the type of surgery (e.g. revision rhinoplasty, ethnic rhinoplasty) and the use of graft materials. Most patients can return to work or school after one to two weeks. Some of my patients return to work a day after the surgery. However, during this time, patients still experience common effects such as bruising and swelling. This article will give you an idea of how long nose job recovery takes. Rhinoplasty recovery varies from one person to another. How Long Does a Nose Job Take to Heal: What to Expect After A Nose Job You will experience various effects such as bruising and swelling during rhinoplasty recovery. Here are the most common effects of rhinoplasty, including how long each effect usually lasts. By the end of this article, you’ll know how long does a nose job take to heal. You’ll experience common effects such as swelling and bruising after a nose job. 1. Swelling You can expect swelling after a nose job. Within two weeks after the surgery, about 80% of the swelling will go away. In addition, you can immediately see your nose’s shape change once the cast is removed. The swelling will continue to heal. However, the fine changes in your appearance will not be visible yet. Three months after your surgery, the swelling will totally go away. However, it can take up to a year for you to see your nose’s final shape. 2. Bruising There are two stages of bruising. The first occurs right after rhinoplasty. During this time, the bruises are at their most visible state. The second stage occurs within one after surgery. During this time, the bruises are healing. Thanks to my technique and use of sedation anaesthesia, my patients’ bruises are minimal and over 90% have either no bruising or they go away within one to two weeks. Less than 20% of the time, bruising is noticeable under the eyes where the skin is extremely thin. It takes six weeks for bruising in this area to go away. It can be covered using makeup one week after surgery though. 3. Pain Nose jobs are not usually painful. My patients experience little pain after nasal surgery. It lasts for less than 24 hours. Most of the pain my patients feel is caused by congestion and pressure, not the surgery per se. Oral analgesia is often enough to take the pain away, 24 hours after the surgery. Some of my patients don’t have to take oral analgesia though, because of the certain techniques I use to minimize the pain. 4. Congestion Your nose will be congested immediately after rhinoplasty. This is because the inner lining of your nose will swell after the surgery. Your nose will feel less congested after one week. However, it will still feel blocked for a few more weeks. You might also experience a change in your sense of smell. Your nose will be unclogged and your sense of smell will return back to normal after four to six weeks. 5. Numbness The tip of your nose will feel numb after the surgery. Your upper lip might be stiff as well. As a result, smiling will feel different. These occur because a nose job temporarily disrupts some of the nerves in the area. The numbness will continuously improve for six weeks after the operation. If your upper lip becomes stiff, it should improve after a few weeks. 6. Scars The scars my patients have are hidden under the nose. After a few weeks, the scars will be more difficult to notice. If you want to further hide the scars, you can use makeup one week after rhinoplasty.Your scars will completely disappear xix to 12 months after the surgery. 7. Dryness Your nose might become dry post-op. If this happens, I usually advise my patients to avoid dry environments and use saline spray & ointment. Dryness often goes away one to two months after rhinoplasty. The common effects of rhinoplasty eventually go away. How Long Does a Nose Job Take to Heal: Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline Nose job recovery can take weeks. You’ll see the final result six months to one year after the operation. These are the things you can expect to happen during your nose job recovery. Week 1 Your cast will be removed. The cast supports your nose as it heals. It is removed by your doctor five to seven days after your nose job. Most of the swelling will go away. A week after the operation, about 80% of the swelling will go away. However, swelling will continue. Bruising will improve. Most of Dr De Silva’s patients have minimal bruising. Your bruises will become less noticeable a week after the surgery. Avoid exercise for three weeks as this may make your bruising worse! You won’t feel pain. You won’t feel pain the day after your surgery. My patients feel minimal pain that lasts for less than 24 hours after the procedure. Your nose will be less congested. Your nose will feel blocked right after the operation. It will be less congested after a week. Your nose will feel numb. You won’t be able to feel the tip of your nose. Your upper lip might feel numb as well. Scars will be in their most noticeable state. While your scars are under your nose, they will be most noticeable a week after the operation. Your nose might be dry. If your skin is sensitive, your nose might become dry after the surgery, you can use saline spray to help with this. You can use makeup. You can use a non-irritating concealer to hide your bruises and scars one week after the surgery. Week 2 Swelling will continue, but less. There will be some swelling left. However, it won’t be as intense as the week before. Bruising will totally go away. Bruises, except those under your eye, won’t be visible. Nasal congestion will continue to improve. Your nose will feel less blocked compared to the week before. Scars will be less noticeable. Your scars will still be there. However, your makeup will do a better job at hiding them. Thanks to my special technique, your scars will be hidden. Week 3 Swelling will continue to subside. Swelling won’t be easily noticeable. However, the fine changes in your nose won’t be visible yet. Dr De Silva prefers to give his patients anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce swelling, this is particularly helpful for patients with ethnic noses or thicker skin. Scars won’t be visible from afar. Your scars will only be noticeable at close range. You can use some concealer at this early stage. Week 4 The fine changes in your nose will be visible. Swelling won’t hide the fine changes anymore. Your nose won’t be dry. Dryness might totally go away at this point. If not, it will continue for another month. Your sense of smell will go back to normal. If your sense of smell changed after rhinoplasty, it should start getting back to normal a month after the procedure. Week 6 Bruising under your eyes will go away. There will be no form of bruising under your eyes six weeks after your nose job. Your scars might disappear. If all goes well, your scars should completely heal at this point. Your sense of smell will be fully revived. You will be able to smell things the same way you did before the surgery. Two to Three Months There won’t be any form of dryness. The dryness caused by the surgery won’t be there anymore. Swelling will be totally gone. Your nose will completely heal from the swelling. Six Months to One Year Your nose will be fully healed. There will be no visible signs of a nose job, except the improvement in your nose’s shape. Your nose will take its final shape. Any repositioned cartilage will fully conform to your new nasal shape. Your nose will look more refined and natural. Activities After Nose Reshaping You can go back to doing non-strenuous activities the day after your nose job. How long does a nose job take to heal? How soon can you go back to your day-to-day activities? This section answers the most common questions patients ask. Work If your work involves non-strenuous activities like using the computer, you can go back to work the day after your surgery. If your work involves strenuous activities, you should wait for at least 3 weeks before going back to work. University/ College You can go back to university/ college the day after your nose reshaping procedure. If you’re an athlete, you must avoid doing sports for at least 3 weeks. Exercise You can run, swim, or lift weights three to four weeks after your surgery. Do not exercise for at least three weeks after your nose job. It’s because exercising makes your blood pressure rise. This increases your risk for more swelling and nosebleed. Social Activities You can attend gatherings one to two weeks after your surgery. Makeup can help you cover your scars and bruises. Rhinoplasty Recovery Tips You can speed up recovery time by following some tips. Your recovery time can be shortened by doing certain things. Here are my tips for speeding up your nose job recovery. 1. Put ice on the affected area. Putting ice on the affected area reduces swelling. In particular, it slightly slows down your blood flow, which reduces inflammation. It helps minimize bruising as well. I highly suggest putting ice around your nose for 10 minutes. Do this for the first three days after the surgery. You can use ice in a zip lock bag, frozen peas, or a cold gel mask. 2. Tape your nose. Taping your nose after the surgery helps manage swelling by preventing your soft tissues from expanding. In addition, taping helps your nose conform to its new shape faster. I usually advise my patients to tape their noses for two weeks after the operation. I also advise using tape with anti-swelling medication. 3. Take medication. There are prescription and herbal medications that you can take to speed up your recovery. For instance, herbs like Arnica effectively help reduce bleeding. I provide my patients with special herbal medicine that enhances recovery. The medications I provide are FDA-approved. On the contrary, you have to avoid certain medications with ibuprofen or aspirin for two weeks before and after your nose job. It’s because these medicines increase bleeding. 4. Avoid hot and dry environments. Heat causes your tissue to swell more. Hence, you must not take steamy showers, go to the sauna, or do steam therapy after the surgery. You must also not stay under the sun. Since your skin is vulnerable after the nose reshaping procedure, the sun can easily damage it. If you expose yourself to UV rays, you will get sunburn easily. Your scars will darken. Swelling will increase, too. 5. Have plenty of rest. Your body has to work extra hard after the procedure. It needs to heal itself. Thus, rest is crucial to your nose job recovery. When you sleep, more blood flows to the affected muscles and tissues. This extra blood brings oxygen and nutrients that help shorten your recovery time. Due to this, I advise patients to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, on top of naps. 6. Sleep in an elevated position. Speaking of rest, your sleeping position matters if you want to speed up your recovery. During your rhinoplasty recovery, your nose becomes tender and fragile. Sleeping on your side or stomach puts pressure on your nose. This can compromise the result and cause discomfort. Hence, you must sleep on your back and keep your head elevated. You can put two or three pillows under your head to stay in the right position. 7. Have a healthy diet. Eating well-balanced meals after surgery provides your body with the nutrients it needs to repair itself. In particular, protein-rich food helps rebuild the damaged tissue in and around your nose. Fruits and vegetables are important, too. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals that help you fight infections after your nose job. 8. Do not blow your nose. Your nose will be congested after the surgery. As much as you’d like to blow your nose, don’t. Avoid blowing your nose at all costs. I recommend using saline spray to moisturize your nasal passages until the swelling goes down. In addition, try sneezing through your mouth instead of your nose. By doing these, you can shorten your recovery time and avoid damageing your fragile nose. 9. Do not put pressure on your nose. Eyeglasses put pressure on your nose. This pressure can cause your nose to bruise and swell more. Worse, glasses can leave marks that will ruin the intended results. If you wear prescription glasses, consider switching to contact lenses until your nose recovers. If you cannot do this, wear glasses with the lightest frame possible and put your cast under them. 10. Listen to your doctor. From medication to post-op care, your doctor knows what’s best for you. Hence, you must closely follow the instructions your surgeon gave. You can read all the articles you want, but nothing compares to the personalized advice your doctor gives. If you don’t listen to your doctor, you won’t get the results you want. Conclusion Rhinoplasty can change your life for the better. Rhinoplasty is a procedure that can turn your life around. It will boost your confidence and correct any medical issues involving your nose. After the procedure, you have to give your body the time it needs to heal. Knowing how long does a nose job take to heal allows you to plan for the surgery. You can see significant improvements after a week or two. It might take half a year for your nose to completely heal, but I assure you that it will be worth it. Planning to get a nose job soon? 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