Rhinoplasty Recovery

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Clearwater, Florida Nose Surgery Expectations

It is important to take recovery into account when planning for your rhinoplasty surgery. You should count on taking at least a week off work for recovery and avoiding strenuous activities for at least six weeks. In addition, you should avoid activities where your nose may be hit for several months, depending on the type of procedure and your personal rate of recovery.

This page is intended as basic information for people who are considering rhinoplasty. If you are a current patient with questions about your recovery, you can call our office at 727-895-1515 or call Lara Hartford on her cell phone if you have after-hour concerns. If you are considering rhinoplasty and have specific questions you want answered, we invite you to schedule a personal consultation with Tampa nose surgeon, Dr. Antonio J. Gayoso at his Tampa area office.

The Day of Your Surgery

After your rhinoplasty, you will be taken to our recovery room where we will monitor you to ensure you are emerging from the anesthesia properly until we are convinced it is safe for you to go home. You will not be able to drive yourself home, but should have a responsible adult accompany you. Before releasing you, we will talk to you and your driver about postsurgical care. We will give you specific, detailed instructions verbally and in writing about how to care for your nose and dressings.

The day of your procedure, it is best to focus on rest and recovery. You are free to eat and should definitely drink to avoid dehydration. Ideally, your driver or another responsible adult should remain with you this first day of recovery.

The First Week of Recovery

During your first week of recovery, it is important to take time off work and your normal routine to focus on healing. You may have a splint on your nose, and you may have tubes or packing inside your nostrils. You will likely have bruising and there will be swelling. Most patients report, though, that discomfort from nose surgery is minor and is easily controllable with pain medication. Take all your prescriptions during this recovery period and watch for the signs of infection, including fever or localized warm spots, a foul odor, and foul-smelling, colorful discharge. If you experience any of these signs, please contact us right away.

At the end of the first week, you will return to the office for a follow-up visit where your recovery will be evaluated. Most likely, you will be authorized to return to work and wear concealing makeup for any residual bruising.

Full Recovery and Final Results

Although you can return to most activities after the first week of recovery from rhinoplasty, remember that you are not fully healed. Gradually ease yourself back into exercise, refraining from strenuous activity for six weeks and avoiding any activity where you are likely to get hit in the nose until Dr. Gayoso clears you.

Although bruising typically disappears within the first couple weeks of surgery, swelling may persist for a long time after the procedure. Although your nose will likely look better immediately after surgery than it did before, your final results will not be visible until the process of healing is completed, which may take six months to a year.

If you have specific questions about rhinoplasty recovery not answered here, please contact Gayoso Plastic Surgery to get your questions answered in person at his Tampa-area practice.