How long do out of town patients have to stay after Rhinoplasty?

5 to 7 days would be a reasonable amount of time for out of town patients.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

At our practice, safety is paramount!  Remember, this is fun, elective surgery.  For all of our patients that fly in from out-of-town, we make it a prerequisite for them to stay for a minimum of 7 days.  During that time period, you may be at risk to travel, with higher incidence of blood clots, increased sinus pressure and early postoperative complications.  In addition, external and internal splints, as well as non-absorbable sutures will have to be removed 7 days after surgery.  When you're dealing with your face, it's always better to overplan, as rushing home early may lead to disastrous outcomes!