Is Driving After Rhinoplasty Possible?

Thank you for the question! Certainly, discuss this with your plastic surgeon, as answers will vary among surgeons.  I typically say that whenever you are not taking narcotic pain medications and when you feel like you are strong enough to turn the steering wheel suddenly if needed, then you may resume driving. If you meet those requirements, take short trips around your block with somebody and see how you do.  After any procedure requiring general anesthesia, sedation, or if narcotics given, you may not drive home.  Rhinoplasties are usually performed under general or sedation. You will require a ride home from a friend, family member, or a service. It is also recommended for somebody to be with you for the first 24-48 hrs postoperatively. Best wishes!

Hi Jelly Bean,
Whether driving after rhinoplasty is possible depends on whether you could drive before your rhinoplasty.
Kidding aside, patients should not drive after rhinoplasty for about 3 to 5 days. There are post-surgical homes that you can recover at until you are ready to travel home. Our rhinoplasty patients from out of town, state, or country usually stay close by for at least 5 days before returning home.
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

If you require anesthesia for your rhinoplasty, it is best to get a ride home or stay some place where you can be watched overnight. The procedure itself does not preclude you from driving; however, the type of anesthetic does and since most patients require general or twilight anesthesia it is best to have someone pick you up. If you are having a minor rhinoplasty under local anesthesia, you could probably drive yourself but that is typically uncommon. I hope this information helps.

I do not recommend driving after a standard rhinoplasty as you may be groggy from the sedation. If it is a minimal procedure like only narrowing the nostril width with straight local anesthesia, then you could drive, but it is always more pleasant to have someone with you to do the driving.

We send our out of town patients as well as those without a ride to an aftercare facility. They pick the patient up and the patient stays the evening. They can drive the next day. We don't allow them to drive the day of surgery. 

Rhinoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia or  IV sedation. It is very important that you do NOT drive after a procedure performed under anesthesia of this type. You should have someone else drive you home and also stay with you for the first 24 hours.  

For any type of surgical procedure that requires anesthesia and/or sedation, a patient should be required to have someone receive post-operative instructions and drive them home safely. For their own safety, it is best if every patient had someone they trusted stay with them overnight as well. It is acceptable for out of town patients to be escorted in a vehicle by a respected aftercare facility employee/nurse to an overnight recovery facility and to have the same vehicle bring the patient back for follow-up the next morning but a patient should not be allowed to drive home alone the same day as surgery. A surgical patient should also not drive a vehicle the day following surgery if they have taken any sort of pain medication that could obscure their judgment and/or driving ability.

No, driving is not possible after rhinoplasty because it is done under general anesthesia. It is not safe or standard of care to allow a patient to go home alone after general anesthesia.
A responsible adult needs to be the caretaker of the rhinoplasty patient. The caregiver must drive the patient home and spend the first night with them after surgery to ensure the patient is well taken care of.

Not a good idea to be by yourself for at least a day after a rhinoplasty or facelift or any procedure for that matter where you undergo anesthesia. So not only do you need a companion, nurse or family member to take you home but they should stay with you overnight as well just for your own safety. Best of luck!
Dr.D

Driving after a surgical procedure is dependent upon the type of anesthesia you receive. General anesthesia or sedation anesthesia can alter your judgement and will make driving dangerous. You should not drive until the following day. There are after care facilities available where you can stay after surgery until the affects of the anesthesia have worn off.