Is It Safe to Sneeze or Cough After Rhinoplasty?

Probably the worst complication after rhinoplasty is bleeding, epistaxsis. The reason sneezing is bad after rhinoplasty is because it raises you blood pressure and it can knock off scabs in your nose that have closed off blood vessels. Sneezing therefore can cause you to bleed requiring packing to be placed. This process could cause you nose to change shape before it's healed in the desired contour. This is usually only a problem for the first two weeks post op. We recommend sneezing through the mouth if necessary.

It’s not unusual for patients to have nasal congestion following rhinoplasty.  This is often secondary to swelling with crusting and scabbing within the nasal passages.  When this occurs, patients can have an irresistible urge to sneeze, cough or blow their nose.

            We generally recommend that patients avoid blowing their nose for at least two weeks following routine rhinoplasty and four to six weeks following septoplasty.  Unfortunately coughing and sneezing are often involuntary activities.  Under these circumstances patients should try to cough and sneeze through their mouth to avoid nasal trauma.

            When patients blow their noses, cough or sneeze in the early post-operative period, they can potentially damage the nasal mucousa and cause bleeding.  For this reason, we generally recommend nasal saline irrigations in the immediate post-operative period.  This moisturizes the internal nasal structures and minimizes the potential for bleeding in the post-operative period.   

Blowing your nose or sneezing during the first few weeks after rhinoplasty could cause bleeding and/or swelling. You can learn to cough and sneeze with an open mouth, which can relieve some of the pressure and minimize the risk for side effects. Talk to your allergist to see if you can find a way to better control your symptoms after your procedure so that you can avoid blowing your nose. Also do let your facial plastic surgeon know what medications you are on, as they could affect the degree of bleeding, swelling, etc. I hope this helps.

Sneezing and coughing may be unavoidable after a rhinoplasty, but it is important to keep in mind that your nose is still sensitive if it is in recovery. If it is relatively later in your recovery period, sneezing or coughing will pose a less serious threat (especially if it has been more than 10 days since your nose job). Either way, try to minimize the pressure and intensity of your sneeze or cough. And, try to sneeze or cough primarily through the mouth instead of through the nose.  

Depending on how much work is done on your septum and turbinates, avoiding significant nose blowing, snorting, and even breathing through your nose will help with the healing process.  If you need to sneeze, do so through your mouth.  Increase pressure or dry air passing through your nose can lead to a nose bleed post operatively.  Good luck.