Columella lengthening surgery is a common plastic surgery that aims to improve the shape of the nose by lengthening the columella, making the nose more proportional and improving the appearance of the nose. Although the surgical procedure is relatively simple, postoperative care is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the surgery. Good postoperative care can speed up recovery, reduce the occurrence of complications, and ensure that the surgical effect is natural and lasting .
Rationale for columella lengthening surgery
The columella lengthening surgery mainly involves cutting the skin or cartilage at the columella site and lengthening the columella moderately, thereby improving the ratio between the nose tip and the upper lip and enhancing the three-dimensional sense and beauty of the nose. This surgery is often used for patients with a short columella, a drooping nose tip, or a nose that lacks three-dimensional sense. The success of the surgery depends not only on the doctor's skills, but also on the patient's postoperative care.
Importance of postoperative care
After the columella lengthening surgery, it takes time for the skin and soft tissue in the surgical area to recover. Also, since the surgical site is close to the nasal cavity and oral cavity, the risk of infection and complications is high . Good postoperative care can effectively promote wound healing, avoid postoperative infection, excessive swelling and other problems, and help the recovery process go smoothly.
Postoperative care precautions
1. Keep clean and avoid infection
The wound needs to be kept clean after surgery to avoid bacterial infection. Patients should follow the doctor's advice, use warm water to clean the surgical area, and avoid touching the wound with their hands during wound healing . To prevent infection, antibiotic ointment or disinfectant can be used according to the doctor's advice , especially in the first few days after surgery, avoid getting the wound wet to reduce the risk of bacterial invasion.
2. Apply cold compresses to relieve swelling and discomfort
Within 24-48 hours after surgery, local cold compress is the only choice to relieve swelling and reduce pain . Cold compress can effectively constrict blood vessels and reduce the common swelling reaction after surgery. Each cold compress should not be too long, 20 minutes each time, and wait 1 hour before the next cold compress. Cold compress can not only relieve swelling, but also reduce local discomfort and make patients more comfortable.
3. Avoid strenuous exercise and head-down posture
In the early period after surgery, patients should try to avoid strenuous exercise and long periods of bowing their heads. Bowing your head or bending over will increase blood flow to the nose, which can easily cause worsening swelling or bleeding after surgery . Avoiding exercise and excessive exertion can help reduce postoperative swelling and promote recovery.
4. Follow your doctor’s medication instructions
After surgery, doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics, analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs for patients. Patients should take the drugs on time and in the appropriate dosage and avoid changing the medication plan on their own . If allergic reactions or drug intolerance occur, they should communicate with the doctor immediately to adjust the medication plan.
5. Sleep with your head elevated
When sleeping after surgery, you should keep your head slightly elevated and avoid lying directly flat. This can help reduce postoperative swelling and blood accumulation . Elevating the head can promote fluid flow to other parts of the body, thereby preventing excessive swelling of the nose.
6. Avoid eating spicy foods
The postoperative diet should be mainly light and easily digestible food, avoiding overheated, spicy, and acidic foods, which may irritate the oral or nasal cavity, causing local inflammation and discomfort . In addition, in the first few days after surgery, avoid talking or eating too much with your mouth to reduce irritation to the columella.
7. Regular follow-up and follow-up
After the operation, the patient needs to go to the hospital for regular follow-up visits to check the wound and evaluate the recovery. The doctor will make adjustments based on the recovery situation, such as removing stitches and cleaning the wound . Regular follow-up visits can ensure smooth postoperative recovery and detect and resolve potential problems early.
8. Avoid tobacco and alcohol
Smoking and drinking should be avoided after surgery, because tobacco and alcohol may affect blood circulation, lead to poor wound healing, and increase the risk of infection. In particular, nicotine in tobacco can cause blood vessels to constrict and affect blood supply to the wound . Therefore, it is best to avoid them for at least two weeks after surgery.
9. Pay attention to postoperative complications
After the operation, the patient needs to pay close attention to the recovery of the surgical site and promptly detect signs of complications. For example, if severe pain, persistent swelling, fever, pus discharge and other symptoms occur, these may be signs of infection and the patient should seek medical attention immediately. Timely treatment of these problems can avoid more serious complications and ensure the effectiveness of the operation.
10. Be patient and wait for the recovery period
Although the columella lengthening surgery is a minimally invasive surgery, it still takes some time to recover from the surgery. The patient needs to wait patiently for the tissues in the surgical area to heal and stabilize. Usually, it takes about 3-6 months to fully recover from the surgery , and the postoperative effect will gradually appear over time.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. How long will it take to return to normal work after surgery?
Most patients can resume their daily activities within 7-10 days after surgery, but they need to avoid strenuous exercise. If the nature of their work is relatively light, they can usually resume normal work 1-2 weeks after surgery . However, if the work requires high-intensity physical activity, it is best to postpone it for a while.
2. How long after surgery can I put on makeup?
In order to avoid cosmetics irritating the wound, it is generally recommended to avoid makeup within 1-2 weeks after surgery , especially avoid applying it on the surgical area. After the wound is completely healed, you can resume makeup according to the doctor's advice.
3. How long after the operation can I have a facial massage or wash my face?
To avoid affecting the surgical area, facial massage or excessive cleaning should be avoided within 1-2 weeks after surgery , especially the surgical area. You can use a gentle cleansing product to gently wash your face, but avoid pressing the nose hard.
Beauty Encyclopedia Tips:
After the columella lengthening surgery, scientific and reasonable care is crucial to the postoperative effect. Keeping the surgical area clean, avoiding strenuous exercise and irritating food, and following the doctor's medication instructions can help reduce the risk of complications and promote wound healing. At the same time, patients should remain patient and wait for the postoperative effects to gradually appear. For any abnormal symptoms that occur after the operation, the doctor should be contacted in time to ensure smooth recovery from the operation.