Rhinoplasty: Cost, Pics, Reviews, Q&A

Recovery after rhinoplasty (nose job)

A rhinoplasty, or nose job, typically requires 7-10 days of recovery at home after surgery. You may have some bruising around the eyes that should resolve after 1 week.

Most of my patients can get back to normal work out activity at 2-3 weeks. I recommend patients wait 6 weeks after surgery before pursuing any contact sports or activities such as diving where there is pressure from the mask. (Etai Funk, MD, Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Wait 6-8 weeks before diving after rhinoplasty and septoplasty

The primary problem with diving is that diving forces your inner ear to mitigate pressure differences. Rhinoplasty affects air flow in the nose with can affect eustachian tube function.

I would wait 6-8 weeks prior to diving to prevent issues with pressure regulation. You should be able top work out here on the surface within 2 weeks after rhinoplasty without problems. (Raghu Athre, MD, Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Rhinoplasty and Diving

Diving can place intense pressure on the nose after the procedure due to the mask. In general, diving can resume 8 weeks after the procedure which is on a case by case basis depending on the extent of the operation. (Anil R. Shah, MD, Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Activity and sports after rhinoplasty and septoplasty

Recovery picture after rhinoplasty and septoplasty

It is safe to resume normal activity within days of your rhinoplasty. However, contact sports are prohibited for several months in order to maintain the integrity of the repair. (Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Activity After Rhinoplasty

Activity after rhinoplasty will depend upon what exactly was done during the procedure. However, as a general rule, I allow my patients to go back to full activity 10 days after the procedure. I do warn them to avoid doing anything that can risk hitting the nose until 6 weeks after surgery, and even after then you must be careful.

As far as diving is concerned, I would ask your surgeon for there opinion as they should be the deciding person. (Jacob D. Steiger, MD, Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Diving after rhinoplasty and septoplasty

Recovery after rhinoplasty and septoplasty diving

These are quite variable and individual. Generally speaking you are worried about the increased pressure to your tissues and sinuses in the time after the surgery and also the direct pressure to the bridge of the nose during any dive procedure. In general I would suggest waiting a couple of months and then begin with dives of more shallow depths than you are used to. Then work your way into deeper diving adventures over a couple of months. (Talmage J. Raine, MD, Champaign Plastic Surgeon)

When can you commence activity after rhinoplasty and septoplasty?

For the first week, you want to do much. The healing process demands no activity that raises your heart rate or blood pressure for 6 weeks. You want the swelling to subside without any delays.

Recovery after rhinoplasty and septoplasty flying

With diving you run 2 risks. barometric and mask pressure. So no diving for 3 months please. (Oakley Smith, MD, Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Diving After Rhinoplasty and septoplasty

One of the main concerns that I would have with patients diving after rhinoplasty surgery is the potential for displacement your nose by the mask. Whether it is a tip only rhinoplasty or more extensive rhinoplasty involving osteotomies (breaking your nasal bones), the mask has a potential for displacing the cartilage or bone.

This would obviously compromise the desired surgical result. The bones would likely heal in about 8 weeks in the normal individual and a mask would not likely cause much concern around this area at that point in the healing process. Unfortunately, changes to the cartilage of the nose can take much longer to stabilize – more like 6-12 months.

Sports after rhinoplasty and septoplasty

Hopefully your rhinoplasty surgeon is communicating openly with you and giving you detailed guidance during the recovery process. (John M. Hilinski, MD, San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Resuming Activity after Rhinoplasty and septoplasty

I permit light physical activity (i.e. bike riding, fast walking) at 6 days and full physical activity at 10 days with the exception of activities where there is a risk of hitting the nose, which does include diving, and for these I recommend waiting at least 6 weeks. (Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS, Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon)