What Day is Your Nose Most Swollen After Surgery?

Swelling after most surgical procedures is maximal at about 36 hours afterward.  This varies however, depending on many factors:  How much lymphatic drainage of the nose was disrupted by your procedure, how much electrocautery was used and where, how much bleeding you have post-operatively and where, your fluid and salt intake patterns, etc.

The first 2-3 days directly after your rhinoplasty would be
the time that your nose is most swollen, as the procedure and your associated
recovery are still fresh and recent. If you are worried about being in a social
setting because of your swelling, I would advise that you plan your schedule
accordingly. Plan to take off about a week from your normal routine, as this is
the most dramatic part of your recovery process. After this time, you can apply
light makeup to help mask swelling and will likely feel more comfortable going
out in public.

When I counsel my patients prior to their rhinoplasty surgery I warn them that their swelling will be more dramatic between days 3-5 then what it was like immediately after surgery.  The swelling usu sally subsides significantly by day 7 and the healing process will go on for months.  There are of course variations in healing times but, these time frames can be used as a guideline.