What Should I Expect During Rhinoplasty Recovery?
When you first wake up from the anesthesia, you can expect to experience minor pain, discomfort and swelling. This is a completely normal part of the recovery process. There will be a lot of pressure from both the surgery and the accompanying bandages and gauze. Luckily, pain and discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter or prescription medications.
The splint will be in place for about five days to keep the nose lined up properly. By the 10-day mark, you can generally expect to return to most of your usual activities, although some more intensive routines may need more time to get cleared.
You should avoid any activity that can cause trauma to your nose since it hasn’t had a chance to fully settle. Six weeks is usually how long it takes for a nose to become as rigid and sturdy as usual, but you should always wait until your physician clears you.