Would I be ok to take a 45 minute flight 2 days post nasal surgery (rhinoplasty, septoplasty, turbinectomy)?

Patients from out of town occasionally ask about flying back home after rhinoplasty surgery. There are two issues of concern. Firstly the more serious one of bleeding. Although this is uncommon (most post operative nasal bleeding occurs within the first few days), a smaller percentage does occasionally happen right up to two or rarely three weeks afterwards. If a major bleed started on the plane, this could possibly have serious outcomes. This low risk is increased due to the very dry air in jet planes. Secondly pressure changes can cause pain from sinus blockage. This can at times be very severe. Sometimes the ears are also involved. Although this isn't serious, it is miserable.

Absolutely Not. A nosebleed can happen from cabin pressure changes and dry ambient air inside an air craft. Even if the plane is landed enough blood loss can happen to cause a fatality. Do not fly for 3 weeks after a rhinoplasty, at the minimum 2 weeks. Now in some cases the nasal septum has not been touched at all, nasal turbinates have not been touched and no nasal osteotomies have been done. The example of these cases is nasal tip work only or isolated alarplasty. In these cases you could fly after a few days. RegardsDr. J

In most cases you may want to wait at least 2 weeks to fly just because of the bleeding and the with the high altitude that can cause heavier bleeding. you may want to consult with your surgeon before booking any flights

In my practice, I tell out of town patients to wait at least a week, and preferably two before a flight. As others have mentioned you can have bleeding and the congestion in the nose might be to a degree that your eustachian tubes cannot help equilibrate the pressure gradient during flight (much the same way as when you fly if you have a upper respiratory or sinus infection). This could possible lead to pain and perforation of the ear drums. Of course you would need to speak to your surgeon regarding your specific case. Hope this helps. 

 I personally would have no problem with you flying two days after surgery in my own practice. This is something you should clear with your own surgeon however.

No, you should not fly after Rhinoplasty, septoplasty, Turbinate reduction, nose job surgery.The risk of bleeding is very high due to the pressure changes and the dry air.I recommend that you do not fly for 2-3 weeks after Nose Surgery.Only last month a patient of mine wanted to take a 45 min flight 2 days after RhinoseptoplastyAll the best

It is not a good idea to fly right after a nasal procedure because pressure changes on the plane may cause bleeds.  

The key word in your question involves the word turbinectomy.  Most post-op bleeding likely occurs if a turbinectomy has been done.  Pressure  changes aboard a flight can at times be dramatic enough to perhaps initiate post-op bleeding so we tell our Patients to avoid commercial flights for at least 10 days post-op.  And I have not even done a turbinectomy in the past 10 years .  

In our practice, we do not recommend patients fly for at least 10 days after the procedure due to congestion and nosebleeds and swelling  which can be made worse with a plane flight

This is certainly something that you need to discuss with your surgeon. The risk of bleeding after this surgery is still present at two days so you need to be aware of the potential risks of taking a flight and leaving this early in your recovery.