How Much Downtime Should I Expect After Rhinoplasty Surgery?

If you model for body shots, then one month is fine. If you are a face model, then 2 months are more appropriate. It will take a year or more to achieve the final results, but people should not be able to see that you had something done (unless you are radically changing your look) at those time points and distances.

I have dealt with this issue many times as a Beverly Hills Rhinoplasty specialist. I can tell you that everyone is different and your healing will depend on your particular nose and what exactly needs to be done depending on what your desires are. Following finesse rhinoplasty (which means minor changes) people are usually ready to be on stage or on camera after about 10 days to 2 weeks with make up. The good news for you is that most people who are making a living with their looks... more

The "downtime" following rhinoplasty is variable depending on what rhinoplasty techniques are used such as whether the surgery was performed open or closed, whether any tip work was performed, and whether the nasal bones were broken (osteotomies). Patients who undergo open rhinoplasty typically have more edema (swelling) that persists longer compared to patients in whom closed rhinoplasty techniques were used. If the nose was surgically broken by performing osteotomies then... more

Patients undergoing a rhinoplasty will have a nasal splint for about a week. If an open rhinoplsasty is performed (that is using a small incision on the skin between the nostrils on the area called the columella), the sutures would be removed 1 week after surgery. The majority of the swelling and bruising should go away within 2 weeks. Because you are a model, I would probably give it a month to go back to photo shoots. There will be some residual swelling in the tip of the nose for... more

After Rhinoplasty surgery some patients have some bruising around the eyes that lasts for 5 days. Once the cast is removed at 7 days the nose is usually a little swollen, but it was made smaller during surgery so the net result is that it is not perceived. I have many professional patients that can go back to work after one week without issue.

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.... more

Stephen How quickly you can be camera ready depends on how much is done and how it is done. I find that I usually get public people back in front of the camera within 7 to 10 days. But I will be doing a closed rhinoplasty approach. I greatly prefer this method and find the after surgical healing period significantly reduced. This approach is usually much less traumatic and invasive and more likely keeps the nose appearing within the context of ones face but just better. And my patients... more

In our practice we usually recommend that our patients allow two full weeks before getting back on television or in front of any camera after a cosmetic rhinoplasty.  That should be plenty of time for most people!

A tape dressing and a protective shell will cover the bridge of the nose for one week. With modern techniques, no packing is required inside the nose. There may be some discoloration and swelling around the eyes which will typically improve over 5-7 days. One week is usually enough time for returning to work and social activities. The link below shows pictures of a patient one week after a rhinoplasty. At this time make-up may be worn and most patients are typically able to resume normal... more