Exercise after Rinoplasty - is 15 minutes of light cardio at 8 weeks post op standard?

Question

My PS had told me after my rhinoplasty last year that I couldn't work out at all for 8 weeks after my rhinoplasty, and then at 8 weeks I could do light cardio for 15 minutes. I followed their instructions, but this seemed way excessive to me. I lost a lot of strength and mental health benefits in that long of a time. Elsewhere, I haven't seen THAT extreme of restrictions. I had the procedure done in Mexico (excellent results, by the way). Is this strict of an exercise prohibition medically supported? I ask because I was thrilled with my experience and results and am debating whether to return to them for additional procedures in the future.

Ahmet Altintas, MD · Answer

Hello, after rhinoplasty surgery we usually recommend to stop heavy lifting for 8 weeks. It is normal we can say.

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

Here is precisely what I tell my rhinoplasty patients.

During the week when you are wearing your splint: 
No formal exercise. No jogging, elliptical machine, weights. We don't want you to sweat off the splint, and we don't want you to increase the blood pressure to your face to start a nose bleed. That means no yoga, because head-down positions or positions where you must work hard to hold aren't good for your nose. But you can do *anything* else. You can go on a mile-long *stroll*, as long as it's just a stroll. You'll be strolling around your house anyway, climbing stairs in the house. Don't clean out every drawer in the basement. Don't dig a new garden.

During the week immediately after the splint comes off:
Start advancing activities. you can go on faster walks. *Very* light weights. Don't break a huge sweat. But in the second half of that week, joggers can go on a slow, loping jog. Force yourself to do less than you normally do.

Starting one week after the splint comes off (that's two weeks after surgery):
Joggers can jog. Do whatever cardio you want, as long as you breathe in and out. Weightlifters hold their breath, so don't lift yet. Pushups and situps drive lots of blood pressure into the face, so not yet.

Starting three weeks after surgery (two weeks after the splint comes off):
Do whatever you want: lift, run, yoga, sit-up contests. All done with restrictions.

I have had zero patients get in trouble with these restrictions, and you know what that means? It means maybe they're more restrictive than they need to be!!

Exercise after Rinoplasty - is 15 minutes of light cardio at 8 weeks post op standard?

Answers (2)

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