How long should it take to recover after septorhinoplasty?

Question

I have a deviated septum. I am going to get surgery for it. I am also thinking about getting my dorsel hump removed. How long should the recovery be? How soon will most of the swelling go away?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If the surgery is performed closed with minimal dissection, most of the swelling will be gone in a few weeks but one year for complete resolution.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of rhinoplasties each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

Most people return to work/ social activities at one week. The splint over the bridge of the nose is usually removed between 5-7 days. You can have undereye bruising but this can be treated with laser at the time of your post-operative visit to speed its resolution. Final results are typically evident between 3-12 months but most people are able to get back to their activities at 7 days. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACSWeber Facial Plastic Surgery

Evan Ransom, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the great question. If you just straighten the septum, recovery is generally about a week. If the septum is severely deviated, then supportive stents may be placed in the nose during this time. In my practice, I remove these at one week. Some minimal residual swelling may persist for a few days afterward, but overall, this is generally very mild.  If you add removal of a dorsal hump ("bump") from the bridge, recovery is a bit longer.  More swelling will be present on the outside of the nose, and in most cases, you would be wearing a plastic cast on the nose in the first week. Best of luck!

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

The immediate recovery for a septorhinoplasty procedure would be about a week or two, but it can take 6-12 months for the swelling to resolve completely.  A large portion of the swelling should subside after a few weeks though.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Usually the splint and stitches come out within one week.  A lot of swelling will go down within 6-8 weeks but there will be residual swelling that will persist for a year.

How long should it take to recover after septorhinoplasty?

Answers (9)

Answer: Recovery for septorhinoplasty

Answer: Recovery for septorhinoplasty

Answer: Recovery from rhino/septolasty

Answer: Recovery from rhino/septolasty

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How long should it take to recover after septorhinoplasty?

Answers (9)

Answer: Recovery for septorhinoplasty

Answer: Recovery for septorhinoplasty

Answer: Recovery from rhino/septolasty

Answer: Recovery from rhino/septolasty

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.