How Does My Sense of Smell and Taste Work? 

The ability of the human body to detect smells comes from the presence of olfactory neurons located on the roof of the nose. Whenever the molecules from substances enter the nostrils, the receptor neurons in the olfactory nerve are stimulated. These then send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb, which is located in the forebrain. You can also smell the food while you’re chewing it. This helps you to find out the flavour of the food that you’re eating. 

Moreover, it is also possible for you to detect the flavour of the food or other substances if you just smell it. That’s because the air from the nose travels to the back of the throat, where your taste buds are able to decipher the smell and its taste. 

However, when you’re eating food, the microvilli contained in the taste buds send a message to your brain so that you can come to know what you’re eating. Many people temporarily experience a loss of smell and/or taste after catching a cold or flu. Similarly, with rhinoplasty, you can also lose your sense of taste and smell. However, it’s only temporary. 

Why Am I Experiencing Loss of Taste and Smell After Rhinoplasty? 

You don’t need to panic if you’re experiencing loss of taste and smell after having rhinoplasty. It’s completely normal. It happens because your nose is swollen and bruised after the surgery. This will impact your air passageway and the nerves inside the nose. 

In fact, you may be able to taste and smell better after the rhinoplasty. Some patients have rhinoplasty because they have obstructed air passageway. The surgery can help improve their airflow, which can increase their sense of smell and taste.

How Long Will It Take for My Sense of Smell and Taste to Return After the Surgery? 

It can take 3-6 weeks for your sense of taste and smell to return. Moreover, it can take almost 6 months for you to completely recover from the surgery. 

Quite rarely do patients permanently lose their sense of taste and smell. The surgery shouldn’t alter your sense of taste or smell for the worse. 

How Can I Ensure Quicker Recovery? 

It will take some time for your body to heal. Moreover, the length of the recovery period is different for patients. Age, genetics, health, and lifestyle can act as determining factors in this regard. For normal recovery, we will provide you with aftercare instructions. You should make sure to follow them. 

Eat healthily, don’t smoke or drink alcohol, stay hydrated and take rest. Also, avoid doing any strenuous exercise or participating in sports.