Video Website powered by Einstein IndustriesMinas Constantinides, MD, FACS, PC

DR. MINAS CONSTANTINIDES: My office and I really work hard to make sure that everyone knows what to expect with rhinoplasty. Before surgery, patients are told that you have to stop aspirin and Motrin, that sort of thing, for a week at least beforehand.

We give Arnica, which is an herbal homeopathic medication to start a couple days before the surgery and continue for about a week after. It really helps to minimize bruising during and after the procedure.

After the surgery, we give patients a specialized cold compress they put in their freezer. It’s nice 'cause it doesn't freeze hard. It stays soft. And it allows lots and lots of cold to be applied to the face, which is key to minimize bruising and swelling.

Everyone expects to have some bleeding after the surgery. Typically the bleeding occurs for about one night and then stops by the next day. And that’s normal. It’s never enough bleeding to really be a medical problem for anyone.

The little stitches that we put in underneath the nose stay in for four or five days and are removed early so that they don’t leave little marks. And we take the cast off at a week.

Everyone worries about what happens with rhinoplasty. Will we break the bones? Well breaking the bones is really not what we do. We cut them very precisely with a little chisel, 2 millimeters wide.

So it’s a precise surgical cut. And that’s what gives the bruising, most of the bruising, after surgery.