Week 1–2
External protection, swelling, possible bruising around the eyes. Breathing through the nose may be difficult because of swelling. Pain is usually moderate and is controlled with the agreed medication.
After the procedure
Recovery after rhinoplasty
The course is predictable; the pace is individual. These are orientations, not a guarantee for every nose.
Week 2–4
After the splint comes off the nose still looks swollen. Desk work is often possible. Sport, glasses and sun on the nose remain limited according to the instructions.
Month 1–3
The shape becomes clearer. Light activity returns gradually. Contact sport waits longer. Reviews are arranged in advance.
Month 6–12
Remaining swelling, especially at the tip, settles slowly. Judging the final result is not the work of the first month.
The first days
The head is elevated, cold packs according to the instructions, no blowing the nose. Sleeping on the side and strain that raises pressure remain forbidden until you are told otherwise. Bleeding, a sudden rise in pain or fever are not “part of the process” — get in touch; do not wait for the next review.
Exact instructions — medicines, rinsing, when the next review follows — are given in writing after the procedure. The calendar on this page does not replace that sheet.
Hygiene and daily life
A shower from the neck down from the first day; hair with care so water does not soak the splint. Nasal rinsing starts when the surgeon says, not on advice from a group. Alcohol and strain that raises pressure stay out in the first weeks. Sexual intercourse and bending are treated as strain — the same rule.
Bruising around the eyes is not the rule for every nose, but if it comes it peaks around the third day and then fades. Make-up on the nose waits until the skin is quiet. Contact lenses are usually allowed earlier than glasses.
Splint, work, sun
The external protection stays 7–12 days. After it comes off the nose is still swollen and sensitive. A desk rhythm is often possible then, if the work is not physical and if you do not need glasses on the bridge. Sun on the nose and a solarium remain a poor idea until the skin settles — pigment and swelling like heat.
Sport, glasses, flying
Walking is useful early. Running and cycling return gradually, often from the third or fourth week. Contact, a gym with load and martial arts wait 3–6 months. Glasses must not sit on a freshly changed bridge; a light frame later, with care.
A flight is not planned for the third day. Short flights often after the first review, if healing is orderly. A longer flight, cabin dryness and the risk of swelling are arranged individually — especially if you are coming from abroad for a consultation. Consultation
Revision heals more slowly than primary rhinoplasty. If the procedure was a revision, allow for longer swelling of the tip — see revision rhinoplasty. Primary rhinoplasty · Revision rhinoplasty
Common questions
How long does recovery take and when do I return to work?
The splint usually stays for 7 to 12 days. Desk work often resumes after the splint is removed, if the job does not require strain or impact. Facial swelling and under-eye bruising in the first week are expected; the nasal tip stays firmer for weeks. Physical work, the gym and contact wait longer. The final shape comes over months, often up to a year, especially at the tip. A calendar from a forum is not your plan — the follow-up visit confirms the rhythm. If you work in front of a camera or with clients, allow that other people's first impression will still follow you for some time after you return.
Do scars remain?
A closed approach leaves the incisions inside the nose, so there are none on the outside. An open approach adds a short incision on the skin bridge between the nostrils; it fades and in most people later is hard to see from close range. Revision and a graft from the ear or rib leave an extra incision at that site. Healing depends on the skin, the sun and whether you follow the instructions. A scar cannot be guaranteed invisible. At the examination you are told which approach makes sense and why, and what you can expect on your skin, not on someone else's photograph.
This website is for information only and does not replace a medical examination, diagnosis or advice. Any decision about surgery is made after an in-person assessment and a discussion of expected outcomes, possible complications and alternatives. In an emergency, contact emergency medical services or call 194 or 112.