Can I exercise 3 weeks after rhinoplasty?

After rhinoplasty, I recommend that my patients refrain from any kind of exercise for at least two weeks. You can begin moderate exercise after that time. By 4 weeks, most of the obvious swelling will have subsided. The nose heals slowly, so your results will continue to improve for up to 1 year.  
So, to answer your question: It depends. You may be ready for light activity during rehearsals two weeks after your rhinoplasty, but then again if the dance routines are challenging, you may not feel quite up to it. Even at your performance, you will have a little residual swelling. If the performance is important to you and you want to perform without worrying, I'd suggest postponing the rhinoplasty. I hope this helps.

Hello, and thank you for the question. In general, it is best to avoid strenuous activity for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Not adhering to this guideline can cause additional swelling and may potentially cause bleeding. I would recommend speaking to your surgeon, as he/she may have specific guidelines for you to follow. I hope this information helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

There is a wide variation in what patients are told on the question of exercise after Rhinoplasty. I tell patients 1 week no exercise, then light cardio (like an exercise bike) the second week. No restrictions after week 2. I have heard of other doctors telling patients they need to wait 3 months, but I see no medical justification for that. It's only about limiting bleeding risk.

Of course, check with your surgeon's recommendations. I like patients to avoid strenuous activity for about 2 weeks following surgery. However, no contact sports for 6 weeks. If your dance showcase could potentially involve you colliding with another dancer -- and thereby hitting your nose -- I would probably avoid this activity. You don't want to disrupt the healing of your nose with trauma as is it could negatively impact your results.

Yes, it should be ok to exercise 3 weeks after surgery, but that is in my practice.  I strongly urge you to ask your surgeon.  What we recommend is to go light at first, then slowly increase your tolerance.  I hope that this helps.  All the best.

Excellent question. The answers you get will vary depending on individual physician preference and the nature of your particular surgery. In general however, 3 weeks is a common expectation for full exercise following rhinoplasty. I tell my patients can walk around the house and do normal daily activities beginning on postoperative day one. After the first week, they can progress to mild exercise, then full exercise at 3 weeks.  Risks of overdoing it include bleeding, prolonged swelling, and a shift of the nose or septum. Remember, wound healing and tissue strength takes time -- about 6 weeks to get to half strength for many operations.  One other point -- if there is a chance that the nose might receive contact (common with soccer, basketball, even softball!) then I recommend an acrylic shield for minimum 6 weeks following rhinoplasty. You can get a generic shield at Dicks Sporting Goods, or a custom shield by a rehab facility in your area. If you are having rhinoplasty on April 30th, expect that the outside of your nose will be a bit puffy, and you might still be a bit stuffy, but a performance on the 19th will probably be OK for most patients.

Hello and thank you for your question. Congratulations on your upcoming procedure.  I allow my patient to exercise one week after surgery and participate in contact sports 6 weeks after surgery.  I recommend speaking with your surgeon, as each surgeon has their protocol.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Generally, it is recommended to refrain from vigorous exercise that increases the heart rate for at least 3 weeks after a rhinoplasty.  However, there may be a slightly longer or shorter waiting period depending upon the extent of the rhinoplasty and if the nasal bones require adjustment.  Best always to seek the opinion of the surgeon who is performing the rhinoplasty. 

We have seen nasal bleeding in less than 1% of patients within the first three weeks following rhinoplasty, but rarely does a nosebleed occur after this time. You may be a bit stuffy, and you certainly should avoid nasal trauma three weeks postoperative. You can get reassurance from your surgeon. Hope this helps! Dr Joseph

You should ask your surgeon whether or not you can exercise after 3 weeks. This depends greatly on the extent of your surgery, your nasal skin thickness, whether or not osteotomies were done, and if you had an endonasal versus external approach. In general, though, I recommend to refrain from strenuous activities for 4-6 weeks to expedite the resolution of nasal swelling. Best wishes!