Rhinoplasty Q&A

80%

WORTH IT RATING

1,002 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Rhinoplasty Cost: $5,975

Learn about Rhinoplasty

5,050 people and 803 doctors are talking about Rhinoplasty

Get Free Email Updates

How Soon After Rhinoplasty is It Safe to Fly Home?

asked 2 years ago by newtoski in Here
Latest answer by Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD
Question viewed 1,126 times
Tags: nose, flying, risk, safety, travel

If I get a rhinoplasty out of town, how many days must I wait to fly home? Does it depend on the length of the flight? What kind of risks am I taking on if I fly earlier than that? Also, is it safe to recover alone in a hotel room? Or is it more safe to fly home where there is family nearby?

14 answers to How Soon After Rhinoplasty is It Safe to Fly Home?

Rhinoplasty Recovery

All of our patients from out of town, state, or country must have a friend or family member be with them or stay in a recovery facility the night of surgery. They typically fly home after the cast and appropriate sutures are removed on the 6th post-operative day. They are advised to chew gum or use nasal sprays to clear their airway before and during flight.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Rhinoplasty recovery

It is always better to stay in town after surgery until the early post-op period just in case there is a problem that needs to be addressed. If you do have to go home on an airplane shortly after surgery, you want to stay well hydrated to avoid clots in your legs. In addition, you may want to take some Afrin before getting on the plane to help with nasal congestion.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Flying after rhinoplasty

For many years in practice, I have performed rhinoplasty in people who live at quite some distance from my office. Sometimes they fly home the next day and fly back to have their dressing remove from their nose. More often, they will wait until the dressing is removed from the nose (between 4 and 7 days after surgery) and then they will fly home. Flying, in and of itself should not cause any problems and I have not seen any associated problems or complications related to the flying. I do... more

Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD
Freehold Facial Plastic Surgeon

Flying after rhinoplasty

It is safe to fly home approximately 7-10 days after rhinoplasty when the cast is removed at the doctor’s office. It is important to stay close to where your surgeon is located, that way in the event you have post-operative complications he/she will be able to assist you.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Best to fly home after about 7 days after Rhinoplasty

It is advisable to remain in the area for about a week to make sure things are healing well and for bleeding risks to decrease. Having said that, not all patients can afford to wait that long and we've had some patients fly home the next day after we see them in clinic. It is critical that patients avoid any heavy lifting (ie more than 15-20 lbs). It's probably best not to carry on heavy items or have to reach to place things in the overhead compartment. Expect your nose to be stuffy and... more

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD
Oakland Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fly home 7 days After Rhinoplasty

It is advisable to stay in town for at least 7 days after Rhinoplasty. This allows for early packing removal and cast/suture removal on postoperative day seven.

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

Flying after rhinoplasty

We suggest that our out-of-town patients stay nearby for at least the first week since there are at least a couple post-op visits in that time-frame. Airplane cabins are dry, so lots of nasal saline spray can help with comfort. Nasal congestion can make it harder to clear middle ear pressure, especially on descent, so we recommend a couple squirts of Afrin about 30 minutes before the flight. It lasts about 10-12 hours. I also suggest that patients get up and move about the cabin every hour... more

David C. Pearson, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and travel

I generally recommend that you wait at least a week prior to travel after surgery. You will be need to be seen by your surgeon for splint removal during this time. You should have someone with you overnight for at least the first day or two after surgery. Your surgeon may be able to reocmmend a private duty nurse if you do not have anyone to fill this need. Flying earlier is mainly a risk because if you experience bleeding or any anesthesia complications, you won't have the necessary... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Flying in an airplane after rhinoplasty

This depends on what procedures were performed. With a tip rhinoplasty, you could theoretically fly home immediately. However, with extensive septal, turbinate and/or sinus work it may be best to wait 10 days when the risk of bleeding and infection are tremendously lower.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Flying home safely after Rhinoplasty

Airplane cabins are pressurized and I have had people fly back and forth from NYC for their appointments. On the day of surgery, you would need to be in NYC, and depending on the extent of the needed operation you may be able to fly home as early as the next day, or on the far side 5 to 7 days. No heavy lifting or bending over, to avoid increasing pressure in your head which could cause a bloody nose. On the day of the surgery we can arrange for a private nurse to escort you to your hotel... more

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

It is safe to fly 6-7 days after rhinoplasty.

The issue of importance is being able to clear your ears on decent of the plane. We have our patients spray Afrin in their nose 10-15 minutes prior to decent.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Flying After Rhinoplasty, When is it Safe?

Hi New, What's new? For my patients, it is okay to fly about 5 days after out of town rhinoplasty, although the longer they wait the better. You need to confirm the amount of time with your rhinoplasty surgeon. On the firth day after rhinoplasty, the splint and any stitches are usually removed. The main risk of flying is bleeding from the cabin pressure change. The other downside is having limited follow up with your surgeon. Sometimes arrangements can be made in your hometown with an... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

You can fly seven to ten days after Rhinoplasty

In my practice, I routinely treat patients from other countries and other parts of the United States. I routinely allow them to fly home 7 to 10 days after surgery and they have no problems.

Andrew Jacono, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Flying after Rhinoplasty

In my practice, I have patients stay in the area for seven days after rhinoplasty. This gives them some time to start healing and allows me to make sure that there are no early complications after the surgery. Flying earlier means that if an infection or post-operative bleeding were to develop, you would not have the doctor there to treat you. the length of the flight is not as important as the timing of it. Patients should not recover alone after surgery, especially the first night. I... more