Recovery after rhinoplasty is a gradual process, from the marked swelling and bruising of the first week to the end of the first year, when the tip takes its final shape. This page explains what is normal week by week and month by month.

When are the splint and packing removed?

The splint and stitches are usually removed within the first week — in my practice, most often on day 7.

When do bruising and swelling settle?

Bruising and swelling around the eyes are marked in the first days and then fade quickly. About two thirds of nasal swelling goes down in the first month; 95% has resolved by 6 months and 97.5% by 1 year.

When can you return to work, sport and wearing glasses?

Returning to daily activities and work takes about 4 days on average — heavy lifting and dusty or smoky environments should be avoided during this time. For contact sports and high-risk activities, wait for your surgeon’s approval; this can take weeks or even months, while low-intensity activity such as gentle walking can be resumed much earlier.

Glasses are a separate matter: because the nasal bone has not yet fully healed, the weight of glasses resting on the nose can affect its shape. I therefore recommend avoiding glasses for the first 2 months; after the first month, with your doctor’s knowledge, glasses with a very light frame can be worn.

Why is swelling at the tip the last to go down?

The skin at the tip of the nose is thicker than on the bridge, and blood and lymph circulation there is slower — so this is the area where swelling takes longest to resolve completely and the nose to reach its final shape, sometimes up to 12 months. This is a normal process and does not mean the operation has failed.