How long after Rhinoplasty before I can return to aerial acrobatics which involves prolonged periods of inversion?

Question

I am an aerialist who spends a lot of time upside down when performing on aerial ribbon . My open rhinoplasty surgery ( 12/16/13) was performed in conjunction with septoplasty. My surgeon told me to wait 6 weeks before returning to high intensity exercise but had no answer regarding inversions. When performing on aerial ribbon I am upside down for a minimum of 60 seconds at a time . How long before my nose can tolerate the increased blood flow to my nose that happens while upside down.

Jamil Ahmad, MD · Answer

Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. The amount of downtime varies greatly as well. Return to work and social activities varies greatly based on the person. Patients tend to feel well within a few days after rhinoplasty although they have the splints in place, may have some swelling, and feel congested. There does not tend to be a lot of pain following rhinoplasty so most patients are able to do light activities like reading, typing, walking, etc. Typically, somewhere between 4-6 weeks, you can return to strenuous activities including intense exercise and even being upside down! You should clarify with your surgeon what restrictions you have and when you can return to normal and strenuous activities.

Andrew S. Frankel, MD · Answer

There is no correct answer to your question however there are two things to consider. The first is that you might fall and injure your nose. In that case it would be best to wait until 8 weeks before such activity. If you are confident that you will not fall then I feel it's fine to invert as early as 3 weeks following surgery. You can always give it a go and then see how swollen your nose is the next morning (that's when it will look it's worst).Most importantly you should discuss this with your surgeon rather than us :)

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I think that by 6 weeks you should be ok, but you may feel a rush to your nose. It will take a year and sometimes more for all the swelling to dissipate.

Arun Rao, MD · Answer

Skinnyface-Congratulations on your surgery, you look like you have gotten a very nice result. I would think that 6 weeks would be okay for inversion. The risk you run with your job is potential trauma to your nose. It maybe safer to wait until 8 weeks out. All of this is speculation on my part, maybe some of the other surgeons have dealt with this before. I would recommend that you see your plastic surgeon prior to returning to work. Good luck.

How long after Rhinoplasty before I can return to aerial acrobatics which involves prolonged periods of inversion?

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Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty

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How long after Rhinoplasty before I can return to aerial acrobatics which involves prolonged periods of inversion?

Answers (4)

Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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