Are there travel restrictions after rhinoplasty?

My patients fly home 6 days after rhinoplasty without a problem. Most importantly is seeing a rhinoplasty surgeon who does excellent noses.

Thanks for the question. You should be able to flying by 1-2 weeks after your surgery. But this is valid only with assuming postoperative recovery is uneventful. If any unexpected incident happens in your treatment process, this time can be extended or shortened. I wish you all the best.

After a rhinoplasty you need to stay near your plastic surgeon for at least a week, to be seen at your first post operative visit. Flying is not recommended before 2 weeks, although it is possible after 1 week. Expect discomfort at that time if you do fly. Pressure changes are only problematic while you are very swollen. Driving is fine any time after surgery, as long as you are not taking pain medication. The best option for travel at 1 week is the train. 

Hello,

Typically, one can fly or drive through elevated areas after rhinoplasty without problem.  A typical, pressurized airplane cabin is pressurized to that atmospheric pressure we would see between 6,000 to 10,000 feet while flying at much higher altitudes. Even with internal nasal swelling, the function and pressure equalization ability of the sinuses should not be affected and there should be no pain as the sinuses remain at the same pressure as the environment. Obviously, this all applies to driving at altitudes. If there is any concern, I would advise using a topical decongestant on both sides of the nose such as Afrin to make sure the sinus openings remain open.  I also recommend nasal saline use throughout your trip as air at altitude and airplane cabin air is usually very dry.

Regards,

In our practice, we prefer out of town patients to stay in town for at least 7 to 10 days in case they have a nosebleed before driving or flying home. Altitude and air pressure changes will only result in a temporary swelling in the nose which will have no detrimental effect to the rhinoplasty procedure. It's important to follow up with your operative surgeon  several times within the first year to monitor your progress

Rhinoplasty is a surgery to improve the shape of the nose for breathing or appearance. After surgery there are a few guidelines and restrictions to help your recovery proceed smoothly. I recommend my patients avoid flying for 2 weeks after surgery. The fluctuating air pressure, dry air, and lack of medical support are not ideal so early in your healing process. Even though it's rare to have a problem, it's still not worth it. Safety comes first.