Rhinoplasty is a big step in one’s life. It requires  good emotional preparation as patients may suffer periods of depression after the nose surgery. They may begin to second guess themselves and wonder if their decision to undergo plastic surgery was right. Thoughts that they are ugly and that the bruising and swelling will never go away may haunt them after the surgery.

Many patients may have a strong feeling of sadness, fatigue and a general loss of interest. These psychological post-effects begin approximately three days after surgery, when the appearance is not yet satisfying, and which can last more than two weeks.

The other main factors that cause depression after rhinoplasty are medications, post-surgical traumatic stress syndrome, constipation from the medications, as well as the inability to return to normal activities for some time. The adjustment to the new look, the reactions of family and friends and financial stress may lead to self-accusing thoughts and make the depression after rhinoplasty more severe.

Here are a few ways that may help to cope with post-rhinoplasty depression.

Find Support

Reach out to people who are in a similar situation. Read about other people’s experiences. Remember that you are not alone; there are many other people who are in the same situation as you.

Talk To Your Surgeon

Talk to your plastic surgeon about your worries, e.g. he/she may refer you to a counselor or to his/her previous patients to whom you may talk.

Family

Talk to your family about your feelings, post-surgical emotions and the way you feel about your new appearance. Clear up any misunderstanding with your children and your partner.

Exercise

Try to exercise for at least twenty minutes a day. It is very good for you because it helps to stimulate productions of endorphins and increase your blood circulation which makes you feel much better.

Tags: depression after rhinoplasty, Nose surgery, plastic surgeon, plastic surgery, post-rhinoplasty depression, Rhinoplasty

This entry was posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 am and is filed under Rhinoplasty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.