How long after a rhinoplasty can I return to work? I would prefer my coworkers to not know I got this procedure done.

Although there may be a degree of bruising it is usually not visible after 10 days by which time most patients are able to return to work. Any pain is usually mild, short-lived, and easily controlled with simple analgesics. I do not use nasal packs but a small plastic nose splint is worn for one week. Patients may gradually return to exercising starting two weeks after surgery. Contact sports must be avoided for six weeks

Dear sport678,Thank you for your question. Plaster must stay on the nose for 6-7 days. After 6-7 days we take nasal plaster and we apply a special plaster. This plaster needs to stay on the nose for 3-4 days. A total of 10 days is enough to return to work but still there will be bruises so that waiting one more week might be better not the let anybody realize that you had a nose job. I wish you all the best.

It take about 3 weeks to recover from rhinoplasty to the point that your colleagues will not notice it. RegardsDr J

Hello, thank you for your question. It is hard to say when you will want to go back to work if you do not want your coworkers to know. From a healing standpoint, you can go back to work after a few days, but it is impossible to determine how much you will bruise and how long the bruising will last. A good foundation can cover most bruising. Perhaps have an inventive story if anyone asks! Good luck!

The amount of downtime you may have is impossible to predict. Those with darker and thicker skin types are less likely to show bruising. For most, artful concealer, and blaming the dentist for bruising may suffice. Wishing you well. Dr Joseph

The amount of downtime you will have really depends on the extent of surgery.  Patients who require a more significant amount of surgery, and manipulation of the nasal bones tend to have more swelling and bruising.  Generally, at 3-4 weeks, most of the bruising and significant swelling will have resolved.  

Thanks for your question. As far as time off work, it largely depends on a few factors. I tell my patients that they can work from home the day after their procedure. Usually my patients are only taking anti-inflammatory pills for pain at that point. Realistically you'll have a cast on the outside of your nose for a week and you may have stitches on the outside for a week. Those would be obvious signs. After those come off, your nasal skin will be puffy, but you could reasonably say you had allergies or something like that. For more info on recovery from facial surgery, check out the link to my blog.

Most patients return to work (with physical restrictions) by day 7. Some as early as day 5. If you are comfortable covering up a possible spot of under-eye bruising, most patients will completely fly under their coworkers’ radar. Especially if you get a new haircut before surgery! If, however, you feel you’ll be under the microscope at work, wait 10 days. You might go bonkers those last few days, so while I prefer patients get back earlier, if you have vacation time to sit by the pool (hat mandatory!), read, or putter around, then by all means take it. -Randolph Capone, MD, FACS