Coping With Depression After Rhinoplasty
Depression is not a condition that is often associated with plastic surgery, but it has the potential to affect any patient no matter the procedure, including rhinoplasty (nose job) patients. It is similar to how new moms can experience postpartum depression after giving birth. Depression can affect you regardless of how happy you are in your life or how excited you are about getting plastic surgery. The good news is that you can prepare yourself for experiencing and managing post-op depression in the event that it does affect you.
Signs of Depression
This condition is not the same for everyone; there are different ways and intensities with which depression expresses itself. These are some of the more common symptoms of depression that you should be on the lookout for:
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Increase in fatigue and persistent low energy levels
- Feelings of guilt or helplessness
- Persistent negative or pessimistic feelings
- Insomnia
- Excessive sleeping
- Increased irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Increased appetite
- Decreased interest in regular activities
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Cramps, headaches, aches, or pains that are not alleviated with treatment
- Suicidal thoughts
Not every person who is depressed has all of these symptoms (since some of them contradict each other, that would be rather difficult). Some people experience more symptoms than others; some people don’t even realize that they are depressed. Knowing what to watch out for makes you and your loved ones more aware when depression hits, which can help you detect it early and get treatment.
How You Can Prep Yourself for Depression
Learning about and understanding the symptoms of depression is only the first step. There are a few other ways that you can mentally prepare yourself for the possibility of post-op depression before nose surgery. One of the biggest ways is talking to your rhinoplasty surgeon. Discuss your surgery in full, from beginning to end. Talk about what to expect immediately after surgery and throughout your recovery. Knowing what’s coming with your rhinoplasty is a huge advantage because it will leave less room for surprises and unexpected events. Other ways you can prepare yourself include getting exercise to be as healthy as possible, surrounding yourself with loved ones, and consulting a professional counselor. All of these things get your body and mind in top physical condition, which make it easier to go through the surgical process and the recovery.
Dealing with Post-Op Depression
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much prep work you do – post-op depression may still affect you during your recovery. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with you if you do get depressed. Depression is something that affects all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. You may be able to manage your post-op depression with these actions:
- Keep your loved ones close – Spending time with your friends and family helps keep you socially connected, which can help lessen symptoms of depression. It also acts as a safety net; your loved ones can help monitor you and your behavior so you can get more advanced help before too long.
- Be active – This does not mean going out and exercising like you did before your nose surgery. You won’t be able to do that right away anyway because your nose will need some rest in order to recover. Being active means that you are active within your limits. If all you can manage is getting up to walk in a circle around the house, then that’s all you need to do. As your recovery progresses, you’ll feel stronger and more capable of greater activity. Being active helps keep your body healthy and promotes a healthy mind.
- Rest when you need to – Rest is an important part of your recovery. It helps your nose heal and also helps reduce your risk of complications. When you first get out of surgery, you should rest when you need to, but as your recovery progresses, you should try to establish a regular sleeping pattern. Irregular sleep is a symptom of depression, so getting into that routine as soon as you can could help you manage your post-op depression.
- Get professional help – You may find it beneficial to see a counselor even before you have your surgery to establish a level of trust and comfort with that person. Once you are in your recovery, continuing to see a professional can help you work through your depression and also give you an additional safety net.
It’s important to note that only a doctor can actually diagnose you with depression of any kind. Depression often requires some sort of treatment, whether that is with medication or counseling. If you think that you are experiencing depression after your plastic surgery, you should contact your surgeon immediately. Don’t brush off your symptoms – depression can become worse over time if it isn’t treated.
The Rhinoplasty Expert
Choosing an expert for your rhinoplasty will go a long way towards preparing you for your surgery and the possibility of post-op depression, helping you manage depression if it does occur, and alleviating your concerns about your surgery in general. At Spalding Drive Plastic Surgery, our resident rhinoplasty expert is Dr. Paul Nassif. Dr. Nassif is known as one of the foremost rhinoplasty surgeons in the entire world and has had his work featured in journals, magazines, and multiple television shows. Dr. Nassif has been practicing rhinoplasty for over twenty years and has treated thousands of patients. He has seen many patients struggle with post-op depression and can help you work through it or recommend help when it becomes necessary.
To schedule a patient consultation with Dr. Nassif, contact Spalding Drive Plastic Surgery at (310) 275- 2467 today for an in-person or virtual appointment.