Sleeping Position After Rhinoplasty?

While keeping the head higher than your heart for the first few days post-op will probably minimize swelling, I also recommend it for comfort. When the nose is congested--as it will be after surgery--lying flat can sometimes make patients feel as if they're smothering.
It's doubtful that lying flat would cause any truly lasting harm, though. So if a patient is adamant about lying flat, I'd rather they get their sleep and rest than be up all night in an uncomfortable position.
I do caution them against lying on their side in a way that smooshes their cheek and face, since that could potentially shift repositioned nasal bones. I can't say that I've ever seen a bad result that was merely due to patient sleeping position, but it's prudent to minimize the chance.
All the best,
--DCP

Hello and thank you for your question. I advise my patients to sleep with two or three pillows under their head and try to sleep on their back for the first week. Afterwards you are free to sleep on your side. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question. I recommend that my rhinoplasty patients sleep in their backs with their heads elevated for the first few weeks after surgery. Elevation helps to alleviate the post-surgery swelling that is common after nose surgery, while sleeping on the back prevents undue pressure on the nose that could impact your outcome. You will likely only need to elevate your head for a couple of weeks, but I usually advise patients to maintain the back sleeping position for up to six weeks to give the nose ample time to heal. Also, make sure you are working with a very experienced, knowledgeable, board-certified facial plastic surgeon to ensure the best possible outcome from your procedure.

Depending on surgery techniques different surgeons may recommend different positions, it is always best to seek the advice of your treating doctor.
While awake, keep your head upright, or if reclining do not lie flat. And general guidelines for sleeping after rhinoplasty are:

In the early recovery period it is beneficial to sleep on your back, with your head elevated on a pillow for at least two weeks to avoid lying on the side or front of your nose, (which would put pressure on and deform the operated area).
To minimize swelling and for increased comfort it is recommended to sleep with the head elevated on two pillows for the first 3-4 days after surgery until swelling starts resolving.  

Thank you for the great question. Sleeping with your head elevated, on your back, helps the swelling to go down a little quicker and more evenly. If you imagine laying flat for 7-8 hours a day (i.e., during sleep), the tissue fluid will take longer to make its way out of the nose. Sleeping on your side could, theoretically, lead to asymmetries in the swelling and healing. While this would almost certainly resolve over a long enough period of time, in the interim it could be problematic an aesthetically displeasing. Sleeping position and activity restrictions are by far the issues patients struggle with the most. But if you have committed to the surgery and want the best result possible, it is certainly worth it. Take care and best of luck!

Dear calicoreyThanks for the question. In general, I advice to my Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty patients to sleep in a position in which their head is elevated with two or three pillows to minimise the swelling and bruises and also it is easier for breathing. For your case you'd better share your problem about sleeping and I am sure he/she will give you better advice. I wish you all the best.

After rhinoplasty, it is best to sleep with your head elevated the first 10 days after surgery. This helps reduce swelling and potential injury. After then, if you can continue to sleep in that position, it is best but not absolutely necessary. As far as other positions, unless you are putting quite a bit of pressure on the nose, it should not effect your result.

I recommend my patients sleep on their back as well as elevated for the week.  A travel pillow can also help keep the head propped for those people who have a tendency to sleep on their face.  Head elevation is very important in the initial recovery period to help minimize additional swelling and bleeding.Best of luck,Dr. Philip SolomonSolomon Facial Plastic, Toronto

I recommend sleeping on your back and in a semi recumbent position for at least the first 7 days. If you are able to sleep comfortably in this position, I would recommend continuing this longer than 7 days. I believe it is more important for your healing to get a good nights rest, so if you are having difficulty sleeping this position after 7 days, then I advise my patients to sleep in the most comfortable position. If you sleep on your side, you may find that one side of your nose is more swollen than the other side and that is from post operative edema and gravity. During the day, the swelling should go down. Please check with your provider about their specific recommendations. 

Sleeping a little upright with the head above the shoulders help keep the swelling down. It is unrealistic to keep sleeping in this position for several weeks and so I normally recommend only for the first week after surgery after which one should simply allow the swelling to subside spontaneously. If you feel conscious about moving from side to side during sleep you can consider using a U-shaped airline head pillow which is very convenient and can aid your comfort.

The best position to sleep in after rhinoplasty is on the back with head elevated to decrease swelling. Sometimes patients end up on their side, but we haven't seen any problems after rhinoplasty related to sleeping position.