Are There Risks in Flying After Rhinoplasty?

I like to have my patients around for at least a week prior to flying home or to convalesce. The risks of air travel following rhinoplasty are mostly related to changes of pressure and equalization. You will likely have some congestion and nasal edema which can effect your sinuses and eustachian tubes, but simple precautions like an over the counter nasal decongestant spray should be able to prevent this problem.

Thanks for the question. You should be able to flying by 1-2 weeks after your surgery. But this is valid only with assuming postoperative recovery is uneventful. If any unexpected incident happens in your treatment process, this time can be extended or shortened. I wish you all the best.

Travel of any type following rhinoplasty can potentially complicate the post-operative course.  In most cases, patients have recovered sufficiently to travel in about seven to ten days following surgery.
            Air travel often involves prolonged periods of immobilization and because of this, patients may be at risk for the development of blood clots in their extremities.  These blood clots, known as DVT’s, can potentially represent a life threatening phenomenon when they occur.

            In addition, nasal congestion can be extremely uncomfortable when patients fly.  For this reason, it’s appropriate to use nasal afrin before taking off and landing.  This maneuver will hopefully minimize nasal edema and relieve nasal congestion.

To avoid complications, it’s important that these issues be discussed with your plastic surgeon.  This will dramatically decrease the potential for complications.

Hello,
The issue that may arise when flying after rhinoplasty is an increase in swelling. Nothing inside your nose will collapse. I recommend waiting a minimum of two weeks before flying after rhinoplasty. If you fly before that time it is likely you will experience swelling. Hope this helps answer your question. Thank you, and best of luck.
Dr. Nassif

Typically, the only issues after flying involve pressure changes which can result in a nose bleed. The other potential issue is if you have swelling inside your nose for example if you had septal surgery at same time, you may have difficulties clearing your ears with the pressure changes on the plane. I typically recommend that my patients not fly for at least a week after surgery and up to two weeks in some cases. This varies from physician to physician.
If you absolutely must fly shorty after a rhinoplasty, I would spray your nose with afrin before you get on the plane and before descent to help keep your ears clear and minimize chances of nose bleeds. I hope this information helps.
By the way there are two superb physicians in Toronto: Dr. David A. F. Ellis and Dr. Peter Adamson.

 The main concern with flying is a sinus block when the plane descends. For the past 35 years I have had my patients buy Afrin and spray it in both nostrils 10 minutes before the plane starts its descent. None have had any problems.

Flying related concerns following rhinoplasty are legitimate. However, there are many instances when patients have surgery and then fly home soon after (5-7 days) their procedure. I generally recommend that patients do not fly for 2 weeks after surgery. The main concerns with flying during the first 2 weeks are:

Bleeding: after surgery on the nose, your highest risk of a post-operative bleed is in the first 7-10 days. The recirculated air in the plan cabin tends to be very drying. That may increase your risk of a bleed on a long flight. The concern here is really more about having a bleed while on the plane. There may be delays in receiving medical care if a bleed starts during flight.
Swelling: may increase significantly due to the slight decrease in pressure. This is a temporary setback but certainly a concern.
Pain: It takes approximately 7 days for air that gets trapped in the tissues following surgery to absorb. If air is still present in the tissues, then it expands during flight causing discomfort and pain. Also there may be temporary sinus dysfunction that creates a sinus block, which can be quite painful.
Nausea and vomiting: post operative medications and healing from the experience of surgery may put you at higher risk of becomming air-sick. Vomiting may increase your potential to have a nose bleed as well.
Practical concerns: If you still have bleeding from the nose, many airline will not let you board the plane. If you still have bandages, many will require a doctor's note to board the plane.

With that being said, augmentation rhinoplasty does not involve materials that are fluid filled, such as breast implants. There is really no risk of your implant exploding. Be cautious about overseas surgery and consider the possibility of how you will receive care after returning home if everything does not go exactly as planned.
Best of luck!

Each surgeon has personal preferences when it comes to flying after a nosejob. There is no inherent danger from actually flying regarding the nose. The nose is congested for a week so flying in less time would be akin to flying with a bad cold; not a good idea. Other concerns are lifting bags and the hustle and bustle of travel ling. If my patients are very careful, I let them travel 8 or 9 days after surgery, but they need to be "prima donnas."
I do have one question for you? There are some excellent rhinoplasty surgeons in Toronto, why go overseas?

Each surgeon may have different recommendations and guidelines regarding postoperative limitations and restrictions. Certaiuntechniques such as rib cartilage harvesting may impose other limitations on airflight. If you ahve pre-existing sinus disease, airflight could be uncomfortable in the postoeprative period. However in the vast majority of instances, air travel is possible in the post operative period.

We have many out of town and international patients- the amount of time depends on how fast the incisions in the nose heal.  A week is usually enough, and if they've had turbinate or septal surgery 2 weeks.  Spray your nose with Afrin 30 minutes before take off and landing and you should be fine.