Right after your surgery, you will wake up with a nasal splint to support your new nose and protect the surgical site. It is common to feel groggy from anesthesia, but this wears off within a few hours. During these first couple of days, you might notice:

• Swelling around the nose and eyes
• Bruising, particularly under the eyes
• Nasal congestion 
• A tight or tender feeling in your face
• Slight bleeding and a runny nose

Our team at North Texas Facial Plastic Surgery will provide personalized post-operative care instructions and tips to ensure effective healing and minimize the risk of complications. 

Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and assist you with daily tasks during these initial days. You will need to take time off from work and avoid any strenuous activities.

Getting adequate amounts of rest is your top priority at this stage. For the first 7–10 days, keep your head elevated at all times, even while sleeping, to help reduce swelling and promote proper drainage. 

Midway through the week, swelling and bruising might intensify, particularly around your nose and under your eyes. While this may look alarming, it’s completely normal as your body adjusts to the surgical changes.

By the end of the first week, you have to visit our surgeon, Dr. Colin Pero, for a follow-up appointment. During this visit, your splint will be removed, and your progress will be evaluated. Keep in mind that your nose will still appear swollen, and it might not yet reflect the final shape you’re anticipating.

At North Texas Facial Plastic Surgery, we guide you with personalized care and expert advice through every phase of the recovery.

By the second week, you will notice a significant reduction in swelling and bruising. Most patients feel well enough to resume light daily activities, depending on their comfort level. 

During this stage, healing progresses as tissues, blood vessels, and cartilage begin to settle. Here's what you can expect:

• Bruising around the nose and eyes continues to fade
• Early shape of your new nose emerges
• Tightness and initial discomfort decrease
• Easier breathing through the nose
• Formation of internal scar tissue

While improvements are noticeable during this time, it is important to continue protecting your nose. To aid in the healing process, continue your pain medications as advised. 

During this time, it is essential to avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, or anything that might risk accidental impact. Our surgeon, Dr. Pero, and his skilled team will provide personalized guidance on what’s safe to do.

Over weeks 3 and 4, the swelling will continue to subside, especially along the nasal bridge, making the overall shape of your nose more defined. At this point, most bruising has resolved, and many patients feel confident interacting socially.

By the end of the fourth week, most everyday activities can be safely resumed, except for contact sports or intense workouts.

The first month is the beginning of your rhinoplasty recovery journey. While your new nose may start to take shape during this time, the final results will continue to develop over the coming months. Patience is key, as the refinement of scar tissue can take up to a year to fully stabilize.

During the second and third months, you’ll notice significant progress in your recovery. Most visible swelling, particularly along the bridge of your nose, will have subsided. While the nasal tip might still feel slightly firm or swollen, this is normal as it takes longer for swelling in this area to resolve.

Here are the key changes you might observe during this phase:

• Reduced swelling, giving your nose a more natural appearance
• Softening scar tissue, indicating progress beneath the surface
• Reduced inflammation and comfortable breathing through your nose 
• Fading surgical signs, such as bruising or discoloration

This phase marks an exciting milestone as your new nose starts to blend seamlessly with your facial features. 

As you enter the fourth month, your nose will appear more defined. By this point, your nasal structure will showcase its new shape more prominently. Here’s what to expect as the year progresses:

• 4–6 months: Around this time, you’ll see approximately 80% to 90% of the swelling resolved. The shape of your nose will resemble the final result, though minor refinements will continue.
• 6–12 months: During this phase, the skin and underlying tissues fully adapt to the new nasal framework. Any residual swelling or numbness inside the nose will gradually fade.

By the one-year mark, your rhinoplasty journey reaches its conclusion. Your nose will completely heal, achieving its final shape and harmonizing beautifully with your facial features. Intricate changes, such as those made to the nasal tip or during revision rhinoplasty, may take the full year to settle completely.

At the end of this transformative process, your rhinoplasty results will feel and look entirely natural. Whether your goal was aesthetic improvement, better breathing, or both, the journey of recovery will have been well worth the time and care invested.