Rhinoplasty recovery at a glance
- Splint7 to 10 days
- Nasal packingNone in over 95% of cases
- Bruising7 to 10 days
- Time off social lifeAbout 10 days
- WorkAfter 1 to 2 weeks
- ResultClear at 2 months, final at 1 year
Recovery from rhinoplasty is quick: pain is moderate and most patients are back to their social life after about ten days. What takes patience is the swelling (oedema), which slowly refines the nose over several months. Here is what happens at each stage and what you can do.
Rhinoplasty fee: €6,000 to €10,000, quoted after a consultation (€100).
1. The first three days
You breathe through your nose from the moment you wake up: in over 95% of cases, absorbable internal sutures replace nasal packing. A splint protects the nose. You go home a few hours after the operation or the next day, and someone must accompany you home and stay with you the first night.
Pain is moderate and settles with simple painkillers. Swelling and bruising around the eyes are at their peak during these first days.
- Sleep with your head raised (two pillows).
- Apply cold to the cheeks and around the eyes.
- Avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Do not blow your nose.
2. Day 4 to day 10: the splint comes off
Bruising can be covered with make-up from day 3 or 4 and clears within 7 to 10 days. The splint is removed at the practice between day 7 and day 10.
When it comes off, the nose has already changed, but it is still swollen, especially above the tip: this is not the result yet. An ultrasound study found the tissue above the tip clearly thicker at 7 days, returning to its baseline at 6 months [3].
3. From 2 weeks to 1 month: getting back to normal
Social life resumes around day 10 and work after 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the job. Gentle exercise is possible from 15 days. A long-haul flight is best postponed for 2 weeks if possible.
During this first month:
- no glasses if the nasal bones were reshaped;
- no forceful nose-blowing;
- SPF 50 sunscreen on the nose, and no direct sun exposure for 2 to 3 months.
A check-up takes place at 1 month.
4. From 1 to 3 months: the result takes shape
Swelling does not fade everywhere at the same pace: the bridge of the nose settles first, and the tip takes about twice as long. In Dr Médard de Chardon’s experience, the bridge has settled after about 6 months and the tip after 10 to 12 months. Studies measure shorter times for visible swelling, an average of 6 weeks for the bridge and 10 to 12 weeks for the tip [1]; refinement continues after that.
The result is clear at around 2 months. Swimming resumes after 6 weeks, contact sports and all other sports at 3 months. A check-up takes place at 3 months.
5. From 3 months to 1 year: the tip refines
The tip keeps refining for several months. The nose may look slightly more swollen in the morning than in the evening. Thick skin takes longer to shrink onto the new framework of the nose.
Check-ups take place at 6 months and 1 year. The result is final at 1 year, once the swelling of the tip has gone; it is then lasting, the nose ageing with the rest of the face. This is also why any touch-up is not discussed before then.
6. The recovery timeline
Where will you be?
14 days after the procedure
| Period | What happens | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 to day 3 | Splint, no packing; swelling and bruising at their peak | Rest with head raised, cold, simple painkillers |
| Day 3 to day 10 | Bruising can be covered, then clears; splint removed between day 7 and day 10 | Social life from around day 10 |
| Day 10 to 1 month | Swelling still visible, especially above the tip | Work after 1 to 2 weeks, gentle exercise from 15 days; no glasses, no forceful nose-blowing |
| 1 to 3 months | Visible swelling clearly decreases; result clear at around 2 months | Swimming after 6 weeks, all sports at 3 months |
| 3 months to 1 year | The bridge finishes settling (around 6 months), the tip refines (10 to 12 months) | Check-ups at 6 months and 1 year; final result at 1 year |
7. Can swelling be reduced?
Yes, mainly in the first days. Cold, keeping the head raised and stopping smoking (6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery) all help. Studies also show that:
- corticosteroids given during surgery reduce swelling and bruising in the first days, with no measurable effect after day 7 [2];
- shaping the bones with ultrasound (piezosurgery) reduces swelling, bruising and pain in the first week compared with the rasp and osteotome [4, 5]. See the comparison ultrasonic or traditional rhinoplasty.
None of these measures shortens the swelling of the tip: time is what refines the nose.
8. When to call the practice
The practice can be reached throughout your recovery on +33 4 93 68 86 68. Call without delay in case of:
- heavy bleeding that does not stop;
- fever;
- pain that gets worse instead of better;
- marked swelling on one side only;
- a knock to the nose.
Dr Victor Médard de Chardon follows each patient at his practice at 101 rue d’Antibes in Cannes, from the consultation to the one-year check-up, with surgery at Clinique Oxford; his patients come from Nice, Antibes, Grasse and across the Alpes-Maritimes, as well as from Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Toulouse.
Frequently asked questions
How long does swelling last after rhinoplasty?
Visible swelling clearly decreases by 2 months, when the result becomes clear. The bridge finishes settling at around 6 months and the tip at 10 to 12 months.
When can I wear glasses after rhinoplasty?
After 1 month if the nasal bones were reshaped during the operation.
When can I get back to sport after rhinoplasty?
Gentle exercise from 15 days, swimming after 6 weeks, contact sports and all sports at 3 months.
Can I fly after rhinoplasty?
A long-haul flight is best postponed for 2 weeks after the operation if possible.
When is the final result of rhinoplasty visible?
The result is visible when the splint comes off, clear at 2 months and final at 1 year.
Further reading
- Rhinoplasty
- Rhinoplasty before and after photos
- Rhinoplasty price in Cannes
- Revision rhinoplasty
- Smoking and cosmetic surgery
References
- Sclafani AP, Schaefer SD. Concurrent endoscopic sinus surgery and cosmetic rhinoplasty: rationale, risks, rewards, and reality. Laryngoscope. 2009;119(4):778-91. doi:10.1002/lary.20098
- Coroneos CJ, et al. Perioperative corticosteroids reduce short-term edema and ecchymosis in rhinoplasty: a meta-analysis. Aesthet Surg J. 2016;36(2):136-46. doi:10.1093/asj/sjv138
- Caypinar Eser B, Ilhan AE, Cengiz B. Evaluation of a well-known technique with ultrasound: dorsal grafting in rhinoplasty. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2018;42(1):264-74. doi:10.1007/s00266-017-0956-2
- Khajuria A, et al. Piezoelectric osteotomy versus conventional osteotomy in rhinoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2022;10(11):e4673. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000004673
- Armanfar S, et al. Piezoelectric versus conventional rhinoplasty: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Aesthet Surg J. 2026;46(8):891-906. doi:10.1093/asj/sjag082