During surgery, you won't feel the harvesting itself, since it's performed under the same general anesthesia as your rhinoplasty. In the days following surgery, most patients describe donor site discomfort as manageable — often less noticeable than the discomfort at the nasal surgical site itself — and it's controlled with standard pain medication.
How long the wound stays open during harvesting also plays a role in how the area feels afterward — a shorter harvesting time generally means less tissue disruption, which tends to translate into a more comfortable recovery at the donor site.
Consultation Tip
During your recovery, take your prescribed pain medication on schedule rather than waiting until discomfort builds up — staying ahead of the discomfort generally makes the first few days noticeably more comfortable.
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— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery