I am often asked about recovery after rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty recovery can be divided into 6 stages:
Stage 1. Initial healing: over the first week, at which time the splint and sutures are removed and most patients return to work and light duty activities.
Stage 2: Early swelling improves over the next 2 weeks, at which time steri-strips and are removed and activities are increased to moderate activity.
Stage 3: At 6 weeks post-rhinoplasty, the swelling has mostly resolved and patients typically look good.
Stage 4 : The early post-op result can usually be seen at 3 months.
Stage 5: By 6 months, almost all of the swelling has disappeared and the nose looks excellent.
Stage 6: The one-year mark is traditionally the final result, but changes can and do happen after one year.