Different Timeline to Return to a Physically Active Job After Rhinoplasty?

Usually patients who have an osteotomy (as you are probably going to have) require about 10 days to 2 weeks to return to work.
If the work involves very heavy lifting, more time may be required, up to four to six weeks.  Otherwise, swelling may occur that could become permanent.

Rhinoplasty recovery varies from patient to patient. Two weeks off work should be adequate for most jobs, including working in a kitchen. I tell my patients after rhinoplasty to refrain from aerobics for 10 days, high impact aerobics for 3 weeks , and contact sports for 6 weeks. Two weeks following rhinoplasty you should be able to participate in any most activities without pain or damaging your result. Since many surgeons use different guidelines for their patients post-op restrictions,  you should check with your surgeon for specifics.

 

It is acceptable to go back to work one week following a rhinoplasty surgery.  However, you are not by any means well healed.  It is important not to be doing all of that type of heavy fast paced lifting and exercise, and so it might be best to take an additional week off from your workplace.  Sinus surgery is usually much more extensive because of the bone work involved and tends to be more painful and uncomfortable than a rhinoplasty.  There is usually more pressure sensation after the sinus surgery as well.  There is more swelling with an open rhinoplasty than with closed rhinoplasty, but in any event full healing will take a year for all of the swelling to subside after the rhinoplasty surgery.