You may be unable to breathe through your nose for the first 24 hours if nasal packing is used to help reduce swelling and bleeding. There will be some pain, and most patients can address it with medication for the first 48 hours. There is also a slight chance of nausea. Splints or packing must remain in place for 3 days. If your nose is fractured you will be in a cast for 10 days, then switch to tape for an additional 3 weeks. You will not be able to shower or bathe for 3 days.

You may experience some bleeding during the first few days. You can use a cold compress in the nasal area (not directly on the nose) to reduce swelling. Blowing your nose is absolutely not allowed after Rhinoplasty. If you feel stuffy, you may have to use decongestants. Typically, there is quite a bit of soreness after surgery. A black eye (or even two) is not an unusual occurrence as the swelling and bruising subsides.

You may expect 7-10 days bruising and swelling. In 1 ½ months this should be gone and after 6 months the tip will settle and come down more into position.
Most people return to work within seven to ten days. You should wait 2-3 weeks before heavy lifting and 6 weeks before exercising. Avoid any kind of impact to your nose, or sun exposure, for eight weeks. You can wear contact lenses if you have them, but glasses must be propped on your cheeks for up to seven weeks until your nose is completely healed.

Complete results are not immediate and can take up to one year to be fully evident. Others may not see a major difference in your nose, or may not approve of the change, especially if the surgery altered a family trait. Although 85 percent of the swelling will go down within the first month, the final shape and appearance of your nose will not be seen for a year, so you should wait at least that long before making an ultimate decision about how satisfied you are with your new nose.