How long will it take me to recover from rhinoplasty?
Most patients have gauze packing in their noses for one to two days following surgery. Packing serves to minimize bleeding and also acts to hold structures in place during the initial healing period. Many patients will also have silastic (surgical grade plastic) stents placed in the nose. These act like an internal cast and are removed eight to ten days postoperatively. The nose is quite stuffy for two weeks after surgery, until most of the internal swelling has subsided. Nasal discomfort is usually mild to moderate and is present for two to three days. Strong pain-killers are prescribed for all patients. Externally, patients wear a cast for eight to ten days. Nasal swelling and bruising around the eyes are present for up to two weeks. While some patients will return to school or work within three to four days, the majority of patients take two weeks to recover. At that point, most friends and colleagues will not even recognize that a surgical procedure has been performed.
