Swelling and recovery after rhinoplasty

01Typical timeline

Recovery varies a lot from person to person and with the extent of surgery. Below is the course clinics commonly describe.

Time	Common course
2 to 3 days after surgery	Swelling and bruising are at their worst
About 1 week	Splint and stitches are often removed
2 to 3 weeks	Most of the swelling is gone and daily life is less of a strain
1 to 3 months	Residual swelling around the tip and bridge slowly eases
After 6 months	The shape has mostly settled

02Habits that help with swelling

For the first few days, sleep with your head higher than your heart.
Follow the clinic's instructions on how and when to use compresses.
Many clinics advise that salty food, alcohol and smoking are bad for swelling and recovery.
Glasses put weight on the bridge, so avoid them until the clinic says it is fine.

03When to call the clinic

Swelling or pain is not easing and keeps getting worse
You have a fever or pus is coming from a wound
A nosebleed will not stop

When to decide on a revision is covered in When to have a revision rhinoplasty.

04What the reviews show

Being compiled

05FAQ

When can I go back to work?

Many people return 1 to 2 weeks after the splint comes off, but it depends on your work and the extent of surgery. Bruising may linger, so it is better to leave some room in your schedule.

One side is more swollen than the other.

In the early weeks it is common for the two sides to go down at different rates. If the swelling keeps getting worse, or warmth or pain increases, contact the clinic that did the surgery right away.

When to have a revision rhinoplasty
A revision rhinoplasty is usually discussed 6 months to a year or more after the first surgery, once the tissue has settled. Urgent problems such as inflammation or an implant showing through are treated first, without waiting.
Silicone implants vs. your own cartilage
Silicone is easy to shape and relatively simple to remove. Your own cartilage is your own tissue, so there is less worry about a foreign-body reaction, but it has to be taken from another part of the body. Neither is simply better. The material is chosen, or the two are combined, based on the height you want, your skin thickness and any previous surgery.

Rankings

Sources

Review observation data · compiled 2026-09
Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, patient information

History

Rev. 1 · show 1 entries

Rev.	Time	Editor	Summary
1	2026-10-12 11:15	@translator	Translated from Korean rev. 2

Cite WikiDoc, 「Swelling and recovery after rhinoplasty」, wikidoc.app/en/guide/nose/swelling-recovery/ (2026-10-12 retrieved)