How Long After SeptoRhinoplasty Can I Begin Exercising?

Each surgeon has their own post-surgical recommendations and guidelines. I instruct my patients to avoid all exercise for the first two weeks after surgery. After the two week mark, patients are allowed to resume exercise, but I do recommend that they ease back into things slowly. Patients are also instructed to avoid activities where they could get bumped in the nose for at least six weeks, as it takes the nasal bones about six weeks to heal.Best,

Patients who undergo rhinoseptoplasty are often eager to
resume their normal exercise routine. Unfortunately, any maneuver that elevates
blood pressure in the immediate post-operative period can result in
bleeding.This risk increases when
septoplasty is performed in combination with rhinoplasty.For
this reason, we recommend avoiding most exertion for about two weeks following
surgery.Strenuous activities such as
running and weight lifting should be avoided for six to eight weeks following
surgery.It’s
important to discuss these issues with your surgeon before resuming exercise.Your surgeon will be able to tell you when
it’s appropriate to resume your normal exercise routine.

Great question. Generally I counsel patients not to exercise for the first week after surgery. After the first post operative visit which is usually 6-7 days after surgery I let patients return to light exercise (treadmill, jog, etc) but avoid heavy weights or contact sports. Usually after the second week, you may return to full exercise. Hope this helps. 

Dear Spin2011:

Since you had your septorhinoplasty two weeks ago and you have not had any complications such as bleeding or unusual swelling, you should be ready to go. 

The reason why there is a 10-14 day wait after such procedures: The time necessary for nature to seal the little blood vessels which were disturbed during surgery is typically 10-14 days.  Once the vessels are sealed, there is much less likelihood that you will have a problem with bleeding or swelling.

As you know, strenuous exercise, and particularly lifting weights, which increases the pressure within the veins, is more likely to cause bleeding than mild exercise, such as walking.  But I would not worry at this point. 

Another concern was if lifting weights could cause displacement.  Unless you had an injury to the nose as a result of lifting, such as accidentally brushing your nose while raising the horizontal portion of a barbell, don’t worry, you should not have a problem. 

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Author, SECRETS OF A BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC SURGEON
Author, THE ESSENTIAL COSMETIC SURGERY COMPANION

Two weeks after surgery, risk of injury with cardio type exercise is minimal. I tell my patient to ease back into full activity at two weeks.  You should avoid trauma to the nose (no contact sports) for a full 8 weeks as you will find trauma to that very painful and it could compromise your long term results.