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

Any activity that forces you to strain can cause increased swelling or congestion in the nose for many weeks and even months after surgery. Typically this is worse with sinus surgery in which minor amounts of swelling can impair sinus drainage and aggravate a pre-existing condition of sinusitis. The rhinoplasty you describe should have minimal involvement of the sinuses and the recovery should be less complicated.

 

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.