Staying in shape during recovery. Can an athlete who needs to maintain fitness level even get a rhinoplasty?

Your motivation to immediately resume training will be disrupted by your physiological response to surgery and anesthesia, likely for several days. Fatigue, apathy, discomfort, and mouth breathing.  Head elevation recommended to control swelling.As your swelling resolves and healing progresses, usually by one week after for athletes, your strength and drive will return, and, under guidance by your surgeon, you'll be able to selectively and gradually resume training.  My advice is to avoid trauma to the nose, i.e. contact or collision opportunities that may damage your result.

Dear luvluv,you should avoid activities for at least two weeks after the surgery, After that you should start slowly. For more information I would suggest you to consult with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MSCertified, American Board of Plastic Surgery Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

I generally recommend 3 to 4 weeks rest from strenuous exercise after rhinoplasty.  Athletes can often start non impact maintenance exercise at 2 weeks. Examples would be elliptical trainer, walking to light jogging on a treadmill.