6. What is the recovery from rhinoplasty like?
Recovery will vary person to person. Your nose and eyes are generally bruised and swollen right after surgery. Your nose will be packed with gauze or splinted on the inside, and your nose will be covered with bandages on the outside to provide protection and support your new nose shape. This dressing will usually be kept on for one week.
Week 1: At the start of week one, you will not be able to breathe through your nose, and you may have some discomfort, bruising, and swelling. There will most likely be some bleeding and drainage from your nose on your dressing. By the end of the week, you will start to feel better, and your surgeon will examine your nose and remove your splint after doing so. After that, most patients feel comfortable returning to their normal activities.
Week 2: Most of your bruising and swelling should fade, but you will have to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting.
End of the Month: About a month after your surgery, you should look and feel recovered. There may be some swelling around the tip of your nose, but you should be able to see some results. At this point, you should be cleared to resume physical activity and wear glasses/sunglasses.
Month 2-3: Your nose will become much more refined, and the swelling will continue to decrease, but you should avoid any contact sports.
Month 6-12: You should be cleared to return to any contact sport. Usually, nasal swelling has gone at the 6-month mark for most patients, but definitely at the 12-month mark. So, by now, you should be fully healed (inside and out).