Most surgeons have a specific aftercare program for their patients, which works in their hands.  I concur with the general sentiment that Rhinoplasty recovery is rarely painful.

However, it is important to remember that some rhinoplasties are relatively simple, others more complex, and recovery is related to the complexity of the procedure.  For example, if septoplasty and/or spreader grafts are required in addition to cosmetic rhinoplasty, some degree of nasal stuffiness will be present for up to several weeks post procedure.  If extensive tip work is required and/or the procedure is a revision case, the nasal tip is likely to be swollen for a longer period of time.

In my practice, patients generally have paper tape and a fiberglass cast placed on the nasal dorsum for 1 week, followed by brown paper tape on the dorsum for the second week.  A form of non stick folded gauze (Telfa) is generally placed in the nostrils overnight.  This slides out easily the next day and generates a feeling which is akin to eating ice cream too quickly.  When the tape is removed from the dorsum at 2 weeks, there is moderate general swelling which is noted.  I inform patients that the "final result" with rhinoplasty takes a year and sometimes more to evolve.  A skinny pinched perfect nasal tip at 2 weeks is invariably not perfect at 1 year.  Since rhinoplasty philosophy and techniques have evolved to become more constructive and less destructive, the healing process lends itself to incremental decreases in swelling. When an open approach is utilized, small sutures are removed from the columella (skin bridge between nostrils) at 1 week.

Bruising is a variable which can be present or absence depending on patient factors, utilization of osteotomies (breaking nasal bones), and length of the procedure.  Osteotomies are tremendously technique dependent and there is a vast difference in postoperative swelling between surgeons who are experienced with the and those who are not.