Recovery time after nose job
The recovery time after a nose job obviously will vary between a primary rhinoplasty (first time nose job) and a revision rhinoplasty. Generally, the majority of the swelling takes approximately 6 weeks to resolve. The final changes, especially within the tip of the nose where the skin is the thickest, will take a year to develop. The link below will take you to a nose job recovery video journey, where you can see one of my rhinoplasty patients throughout her recovery process. (Jacob D. Steiger, MD, Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon)
I usually counsel my patients that the external “splint” (composed of plaster of Paris or plastic) will be removed in approximately one week. At that time, if you have had an open rhinoplasty, the sutures will be removed as well. The nose, especially the tip, will usually swell after the splint is removed and the “racoon’s eyes” appearance of bruising around the lower eyelids may be quite pronounced. Most individuals take at least 10 days out of “social circulation”, because unlike body contouring procedures, facial work is difficult to camouflage.
Your PS will probably have explicit instructions for post-op care, which you should follow faithfully. In addition, avoiding excess physical activity, heavy salty foods, in the immediate post-op period, can potentially diminish your swelling. (Lavinia K. Chong, MD, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)
Nose job downtime
The bandages will come off 6-7 days after surgery and that time you can go to work. I usually have people hold off on exercise for about 10 days and avoid glasses for 6 weeks (for most people). The healing is usually very easy for people. (Jason B. Diamond, MD, Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Typical rhinoplasty recovery period
Recovery time after nose job cast after
I inform my patients that their splint will be removed, along with any sutures at one week post-op. Most patients at that point look good, and are able to resume work/school and many activities with some minor restrictions.
There will be some swelling, and most of the swelling will take about one month to resolve, so expect the nose to look better and better over the first several months.
Most patients take one week off for recovery time, because they are self-conscious about their splint. Pain is relatively minimal for most patients. (Roy A. David, MD, San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Recovery after nose job
Recovery time after nose job photo
The bandages are removed after one week. There is usually some bruising under the eyes for a week to ten days. I ask my patients not to do any vigorous exercise for three weeks after surgery, so as not to start a nose bleed. (Howard T. Bellin, MD (retired), Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
A good rule of thumb for nose job recovery rime
Recovery time from a rhinoplasty is generally dictated by how long the bruising and swelling lasts. Assuming an open nose job is being performed as a primary procedure, it is generally safe to expect about 80% of the bruising and swelling to be gone after 2 weeks.
Anti-inflammatory steroids during and after surgery help accelerate the resolution of swelling. Most patients feel comfortable in public after a week or two from surgery. The last 20% of the swelling can take several months to diminish.
Recovery time after nose job surgery
From a surgeon’s perspective the final appearance of the nose does not occur until one year out from surgery. (Farzad R. Nahai, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
What to expect with a rhinoplasty recovery
I simply tell patients to avoid looking in the mirror for a few days. A lightweight cast is applied to the top of the nose to keep the cartilage and bone in place during healing, and gauze packing is inserted in the nose for one to two days to protect the septum from moving and to minimize bleeding. While I’ve known patients who have felt perfectly comfortable dining out at restaurants when wearing the cast, most people go into hiding for a few days while the bruising and swelling subside. The post-op feeling is generally not painful, just uncomfortable. You will want to apply ice and elevate the head, and after a week, the cast comes off. Despite the swelling and bruising, the results are immediate. (Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD, New York Plastic Surgeon)