What Does Rhinoplasty Recovery Feel Like?
Mar 11, 2025
You may be more familiar with the term “nose job.” However, no matter what you call it, rhinoplasty can change your life whether you’re interested in aesthetics, structural repair that helps you breathe, or both.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Blumenauer and his team at Oceana Aesthetics in Stuart, Florida, offer advanced surgical and nonsurgical solutions to your cosmetic concerns, including surgical rhinoplasty.
Read more from our team about what’s involved in a nose job and what to expect as you heal.
Rhinoplasty can change the shape, size, and structure of your nose. It’s often considered a cosmetic procedure but is also used to repair damage caused by previous injuries or problems like a severely deviated septum that can interfere with breathing.
Based on your initial evaluation and expectations for the procedure, Dr. Blumenauer customizes the surgery to create facial balance.
Your procedure may involve changes to the length or width of the nose, altering the lift or shape of the tip and nostrils, or eliminating bumps or ridges that detract from your desired appearance.
Importantly, however, Dr. Blumenauer ensures the proposed changes are proportional to your face shape and size. This helps ensure you’re left with natural-appearing results whether you’re seeking changes due to cosmetic or functional concerns.
He also discusses the surgery in detail, offering insight into what you can expect before, during, and after rhinoplasty.
Recovery after rhinoplasty can vary due to the surgical approach and issues addressed during the procedure.
For instance, minor reshaping may be handled with a closed rhinoplasty, meaning incisions are made inside the nose. Major reshaping requires open rhinoplasty with incisions to separate the skin from the nasal cartilage and bone.
Generally, however, we can separate the recovery period into phases:
Rhinoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure. A temporary splint applied after surgery helps support the nose and reduce swelling. You may also have internal nasal packing, depending on the extent of the procedure.
In the first 24-48 hours, you usually experience swelling and bruising around the eyes. Pain levels vary, but rhinoplasty is not typically highly painful. Most patients describe mild to moderate discomfort, with the feeling of congestion and pressure rather than sharp pain.
Dr. Blumenauer prescribes medication to help manage discomfort for the first few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers are usually sufficient after 2-3 days.
Swelling and bruising peak within the first three to four days and begin to subside after a week. It’s common to have difficulty breathing through your nose due to swelling and dried blood.
To counter swelling and avoid post-surgical bleeding, we recommend:
By the end of the first week, Dr. Blumenauer will likely remove the splint and any sutures. Most patients feel well enough to return to work or school, though some residual swelling and bruising may be visible.
Swelling and bruising should diminish significantly during the second week, and breathing through the nose should improve as nasal passages clear. We expect continued improvement over the next one to three months.
However, complete internal healing may take up to a year. We encourage you to attend follow-up appointments as scheduled so Dr. Blumenauer can monitor your progress.
For more information about rhinoplasty or other services we offer, schedule a visit at Oceana Aesthetics by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.