Rhinoplasty Recovery Timeline: What to Expect Week by Week

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that refines the appearance of your nose—or its functionality—altering its underlying structures. This procedure is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the country, with tens of thousands of cases each year. ⁽¹⁾

When my patients are considering rhinoplasty, I like to provide a detailed timeline of what their recovery might look like. This can help patients adequately plan for their procedure and make sure it fits into their lifestyle. The nose is a delicate structure, and it’s right in the center of the face—making it all the more important to have a good recovery. My team and I will be here to support you week after week while you continue to heal. We have designed the following page to act as a resource for current and future patients so that they can approach their procedure with confidence.

Please note that this guide is not comprehensive, and your recovery details will be unique to you. I will provide you with any additional information once we have designed your one-of-a-kind treatment plan.

Meet Your Surgeon

I’m Dr. Alexander Ovchinsky—I’m the founder and Medical Director of Plastic Surgery of Short Hills. I’m a double board-certified physician and ENT with fellowship training exclusively in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. New Jersey Monthly Magazine awarded me “Best Rhinoplasty Doctor in NJ” several years in a row (2018–2022).

In my more than 20 years of experience, I have dedicated myself to specializing in and researching everything rhinoplasty: traditional rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, ethnic rhinoplasty, functional rhinoplasty, and optimal recovery guidelines.

If you are interested in learning more, please request a consultation online or call the office most convenient for you:

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About Rhinoplasty

Before we get into recovery details, let’s review a few key notes about the procedure. Rhinoplasty adjusts the shape, size, and symmetry of the nose to address aesthetic and/or functional concerns. To achieve this, I will reshape your nasal cartilages, soft tissues, and bony structures to address your unique concerns.

Types of Rhinoplasty I Perform

I am an extensively experienced ENT and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in all types of rhinoplasty. Each type of rhinoplasty serves a unique purpose, offers unique benefits, and creates extremely natural-looking results. The variations I specialize in include:

Should You Undergo Rhinoplasty?

If you want to change how your nose looks for cosmetic reasons, or if you want to address structural issues that are affecting your breathing (or both), the answer to this question might be yes. However, determining candidacy is a bit more complex than that. To qualify for a rhinoplasty of any sort, you should be in good general health and have realistic expectations regarding the achievable results. I will assess your candidacy during your in-person or virtual consultation.

Recovering from Your Rhinoplasty

As I previously touched on, the details of your rhinoplasty recovery will depend on the type of rhinoplasty you undergo and your body’s natural healing rate.

After your rhinoplasty, you will need to take time away from your normal activities and responsibilities to allow yourself time to heal.

Don’t worry about saving this information—I will provide you with a full set of post-operative instructions to guide you through your recovery when it’s time. You should follow each of these instructions as closely as you can, as they are meant to help you see the best results possible.

Immediately after the surgery:

You will go home with a plastic splint on top of the nose and small stitches on the bottom of the columella, and possibly by the nostrils. The splint is designed to protect and support your nose’s new shape as it heals. I almost never put packing in the nose, which makes the recovery more comfortable for the patients (less pressure inside the nose). It is possible that you may be able to breathe through the nose immediately after the surgery. You will start taking your antibiotics the evening after the surgery, and you will have some pain medications in case you have pain. Many of my patients actually don’t take any pain medications during their recovery.

Next few days:

The nose will likely get more clogged the next day after the surgery. You may also develop more facial swelling and some bruising. While the pain is usually not significant, many patients report pressure inside the nose, which may be somewhat uncomfortable. Some patients also report feeling slightly nauseous. ⁽²⁾ There may be some bloody nasal discharge as well. Keeping your head elevated while in bed helps with the swelling. Many patients also take Arnica Montana supplements, which help reduce swelling and bruising. You will start using a saline nasal spray a few times a day and antibiotic ointment on the sutures and a bit inside the nostrils twice daily starting day 1 after the surgery. You will continue taking your antibiotic pills. If you decide to take a shower, you should be careful not to wet the nasal splint: a hand-held shower or a bath are good options. Your facial swelling and bruising may get somewhat more pronounced on days 2 and 3 after the surgery.

Rest of week 1:

During the second half of week 1 of your recovery, your initial symptoms will begin to subside. You will see an improvement in facial swelling, and bruising will start fading away. You may be able to gradually return to light activities and desk work if you feel well enough. However, you must continue avoiding physically demanding activities until I approve. You will return to my office for a follow-up visit around 1 week post-op, where I will remove your splint and sutures, clean the nose so you can start breathing better, and take a look at your progress. You may gradually come back to your social activities/ school/ work at this time.

Weeks Two through Four:

Throughout this time, the side effects will continue to dissipate. You may find it easier to breathe, although there may be some remaining stuffiness. You can continue returning to your normal routine, avoiding anything high-impact that could injure your nose.

Weeks Five and Six:

During the fifth and sixth weeks of recovery, you will begin to notice a more refined appearance in your nose. You may still have some residual swelling, but by this point, a good amount of the swelling will have dissipated, and your nose will have started to settle into its final shape. It is during this time that I will likely allow you to return to more strenuous activities.

Long-Term Healing

Over the course of the following weeks and months, you will see a gradual decrease in any remaining swelling—in most cases, my patients see their full and final results after one year of healing. A tiny scar across the columella will continue to fade. The normal sensation to the nose will gradually return.

Results

After your recovery, you will be able to enjoy improvements in the appearance and/or function of your nose. Your nose will appear straighter, more defined, more symmetrical, and more proportionate overall. Each of these effects can contribute to creating a more desirable and youthful-looking appearance. You may also find it easier to breathe after correcting nasal blockages.

Rhinoplasty results are long-lasting, with most of my patients experiencing nearly permanent results. This means that you will be able to enjoy your renewed appearance without the need for maintenance appointments. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the tissues of the nose, and the face in general do continue to age naturally over time, potentially causing the nose to change in appearance. In any case, my results are designed to look completely natural, allowing patients to age gracefully.

Cost of Rhinoplasty in New Jersey

The cost of your rhinoplasty will vary depending on your individualized treatment plan. This includes factors such as the type of rhinoplasty procedure you undergo, the corrections you receive, and the overall complexity of your procedure. I will provide you with a comprehensive cost estimate once I have met with you in person to discuss the details. My office also offers financing as an option for those who qualify.

To learn more about our pricing, please request a consultation online.

FAQ

References

1. Fichman M, Piedra Buena IT. Rhinoplasty. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558970/
2. Apaydin F, Stanic L, Saleh H, Unadkat S. Postoperative Care in Aesthetic Rhinoplasty Patients. Facial Plastic Surgery. 2018;34(06):553-560. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1676379