How long after rhinoplasty surgery will I be feeling normal again?

Question

I've read and understand that initial swelling will reduce in the first 7-14 days if all goes well. I start a new job exactly 16 days after my Sx will take place. Is it realistic to expect nobody to notice the swelling? Also will the rest of my body be back to full strength post Sx in that short amount of time?

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

You should be able to return to work in the time frame you give.  Different patients have varying degrees of swelling following rhinoplasty.  Several of the photos on my web site were taken only two weeks after surgery.

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear proSuppsThe answer is it depends... and your surgeon can give you the answer more specifically in your case. In general, your nose and face can be bruised fo about 2 weeks. Most people can return to work at that point. The stiffness of the tip can last much longer and it can take months to reach the final shape depending on the thickness of your skin and type of rhinoplasty.

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.The swelling does reduce in two weeks but does not go down completely. This takes several months. The bruising is gone in two to three weeks. In 2-3 weeks most people will not notice evidence of surgery. There are, of course individual variations. Please discuss this with your surgeon. All The Best !

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS · Answer

I have had a rhinoplasty myself so I can tell you the
experience.  I was back to work in 9
days.  At that point I was ready to
resume all activities, including strenuous exercise.  Now, we do not know exactly what needs to be
done for you.  Some people have
septoplasty and turbinate resection to improve the airway and other
reconstructive procedures; others will have a purely cosmetic procedure.  Nonetheless, you need to be fit and looking
A-okay 16 days after your procedure, so that you can start your job, I think it
is a good bet.

Remember, some patients tend to bruise and swell more
than others.  The swelling and bruising
is also a factor of the length of the operation, the technical issues involved,
the skill and expediency of the surgeon, and whether or not additional drugs
are used to reduce swelling and bruising.

Today swelling and bruising is less of a problem as it
was before because of medications that are very helpful.  The most important factor is the agility of
the surgeon and the ability to operate rapidly and efficiently.  A long operation at 3-5 hours is more apt to
produce more swelling and bruising than a 1-1/2 hour rhinoplasty.  Likewise, if cartilage is grafted, that adds
to the length of the  operation and often
means a little more swelling and bruising. 
There is no 1 rule that covers the experience for everybody in the hands
of all surgeons.

Your consultations will be very important.  You want to prepare by reading books, look at
the websites and particularly the before and afters, look at the computer
imaging results on the website.  Review
the testimonials and patient reviews on the website and on the standard review
sites such as RealSelf.  You want to know
about the surgeon.  You want to know how
specialized the surgeon is.  You do want
a surgeon who majors in nasal cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, and in whose
practice most of the time is spent doing those procedures.  It is very difficult to be a generalist and
perform well on all the myriad and varied cosmetic and reconstructive
procedures on the face, neck, and body.

The homework you do upfront will pay off.

Best
wishes,

Robert
Kotler, MD, FACS

Over
4,500 nasal procedures performed

William Portuese, MD · Answer

At 16 days after a rhinoplasty procedure, most of the visible bruising and swelling will have subsided. There will still be very minimal swelling that only the patient and the surgeon can detect.  It is possible to get bacteria her exercise routine at 2 weeks after the procedure, however it's important not to get hit in the nose for at least 6 weeks

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

2 weeks should be sufficient for you and your nose to feel normal. However, you should avoid all physical activity for up to 4 weeks.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

I typically tell my rhinoplasty patients that bruising is not obvious 12-14 days after rhinoplasty. There is a significant decrease in swelling by that time, but this will continue to resolve for several months. The answer to your question will depend on exactly what will be done to your nose and the type of work you do. If you're a television anchor you may have some problems. I suggest you discuss this with your surgeon.

How long after rhinoplasty surgery will I be feeling normal again?

Answers (7)

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