Can I Run 2 Weeks After Rhinoplasty?

Every surgeon has different post-op instructions for their rhinoplasty patients so it’s always best to check what your surgeon recommends for you specifically. Generally speaking, I recommend that my patients don’t begin exercise for at least 3 weeks after having a rhinoplasty procedure. Any activity that raises your blood pressure (like running or other exercise) can promote swelling. This swelling might be external which you would notice when looking in the mirror, but can also happen internally. It’s important to allow your body to expend any extra energy that it has on healing your nose during the first few weeks after surgery. I remind my patients that when they do begin to resume exercising, to start out slow and to listen to their bodies. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to stop and slow down. Best of luck!

Thanks for the question. I advice is you should wait a month after rhinoplasty surgery. After a month your operation area is totally healed and yes you can run and also do other sport activities. I wish you all the best.

Patients who undergo rhinoplasty are often eager to resume their normal exercise routine. Unfortunately, any maneuver that elevates blood pressure in the immediate post-operative period can result in bleeding. This risk increases when septoplasty is performed in combination with rhinoplasty.

                For this reason, we recommend avoiding most exertion for about two weeks following surgery. Strenuous activities such as running and weight lifting should be avoided for six to eight weeks following surgery.

                Although the nasal congestion that you describe probably isn’t relate to exercise, it never the less should be discussed with your surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to tell you when it’s appropriate to resume your normal exercise routine. 

Because your nose job was
administered not too long ago, I would recommend you abstain from doing
exercise for another week. Your nose is still in the process of recovering and
swelling and bruising can occur. Please consult your surgeon on what activities
you can or cannot do.

I generally advise my patients to refrain from any exercise, strenuous or not, for at least the first 10 days after a nose job. After this time, going on a light to moderate walk can actually have positive effects on your recovery and can make swelling go down. Running, however, involves higher-impact training, and the pressure on your nose can slow down or even reverse the progress of your recovery. 

I tell my patients to try and avoid intense exercise for around 6 weeks.  That way the patient has healed for a number of weeks and is somewhat back to a normal routine.  The longer the patient waits to stay out of physical activities the health risks decrease.  If you really want to get back into your daily workout routine I recommend you start by slowly walking the track or around your neighborhood and gradually work yourself up after 2 weeks from surgery.  Try not to overwork yourself.  The best thing you can do for your body is to let it heal.

The timing in which one resumes exercise is always of concern. At a 2 week time period you can start to return to your workout schedule, but this should be limited over the next week or two as it can prolong the swelling in your nose from surgery. The impact of returning to a full schedule of exercise will be prolonged swelling at the site of surgery. Be patient, be healthy and be well.


Be healthy and be well,James M. Ridgway, MD, FACS

Early after surgery it is important to avoid, strenuous activities, bending over and straining. This will increase nasal swelling and can cause bleeding. Walking is fine. At two weeks it is ok to start light exercise. Easing into it is best.

If your nose is feeling dry, a saline spray can help. This too can help avoid nose bleeds.

I tell my patients to ease back into exercising after their nasal surgery. Waiting at least 2 weeks before doing any strenuos activity is ideal -- by then the chances of having post-surgical bleeding are very small.

You'll find that the more exericse you do the more swollen your nose will feel. The swelling will go away with time, but may take longer overall. Slowly build up to your usual exercise routine and listen to your nose. It will let you know if you're overdoing it.

Dear rhinoplasty patient from Brookfield, CT
Two week after rhinoplasty surgery, light exercises are acceptable. You must start slowly and build up to your previous exercise duration over the next couple of weeks. Initially there will be slight increase in swelling due to increase blood flow to nasal area. The key is going light in the beginning. Good luck and good healing.