Rhinoplasty Recovery

It typically takes patients seven to ten days to return to school or work after a rhinoplasty.  The surgery is typically performed in my office OR on tuesday morning.  Upon waking up from anesthesia you will notice a small plastic cast on your nose.  If surgery on your septum was performed you will have two small thin splints inside your nose. You will have some discomfort, but not extreme pain. Most patients will be able to breath through their nose, although they will be somewhat stuffy . There will be numbing medicine inside your nose and you will have pain medicine given to you even before you wake up by the anesthesiologist.  My recovery room nurse will give you additional pain medication if you need it.  Most people are very comfortable right after surgery.  Most minor post operative pain is well managed by motrin, tylenol, and if necessary,  a prescription medication like percocet or vicodin.   You will need to ice your nose on and off, and elevate your head for two days after surgery to reduce the swelling.  You will have a small guaze pad under your nose for two to three days to catch any drainage.  Most people will feel able to return to work after three to four days. Although, most patients will feel self conscious about their appearance, as the cast is still in place, the nose is still swollen, and there may be some bruising.  If you work from home, or are OK with leaving the house with a cast on your nose, you can return to normal activity after four days. Most patients will return to my office and have the cast removed from six to eight days after the surgery and return to normal activity right afterwards. If you have the luxury of time and want to make sure you look great before returning to school or work, take two weeks off.  Most patients will look really good after four  to six weeks.  By then all the bruising and most of the initial swelling is gone.  I see all of my patients back at that time to get the first set of post op pictures.  The definitive final result can take months to achieve, as the subtle swelling continues to subside.  I follow all of my patients for one year to eighteen months to get pictures of the final result and make sure that they are happy with their new nose!