What happens in the first week, day by day?
Everyone heals a little differently. The table below summarises the typical course we see in most patients.
| Day | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | The anaesthetic wears off, your nose feels blocked and you breathe through your mouth. Light blood-stained oozing from the nostrils is normal. |
| Days 1–2 | Swelling increases and bruising around the eyes becomes visible. Pain is mostly mild to moderate and controlled with painkillers. |
| Days 3–4 | Swelling peaks and begins to go down; oozing largely stops. Bruises turn yellow-green. |
| Days 5–6 | You feel noticeably better, although congestion and crusting may continue. |
| Days 5–7 | First check-up: the splint is removed and the inside of the nose is cleaned. |
The day of surgery and the first night
When you wake up, there is a protective splint on your nose and a small gauze pad under your nostrils to catch any oozing. Breathing through the nose is difficult because of swelling inside and, if used, soft internal splints. For many patients this is the most uncomfortable part of the first night, but it is expected.
Nausea, a dry throat and tiredness are common in the first hours. You start with small sips of fluid and move on to soft food. Most of our patients go home the same day or after one night in hospital.
Our tips for the first night:
- Sleep on your back with your head raised on two pillows.
- Keep water by the bed, as mouth breathing causes a dry mouth.
- Change the gauze pad when it is damp; do not wipe or press your nose.
- Use cold compresses around the eyes as advised, without touching the splint.
When do swelling and bruising go down?
What surprises most people is that swelling is at its worst on day two or three, not on the first day. Bruising can also spread downwards under the eyes and sometimes onto the cheeks. This does not mean that healing is going badly.
From day four, swelling slowly decreases and bruises fade from purple to yellow-green. In most patients the majority of bruising has gone within 7–14 days. If the nasal bones were not altered, or the skin is thin, bruising may stay very mild; it is often more visible after bone work.
Keeping your head raised, not bending forward, avoiding lifting, hot showers and hot environments, and cutting down on salty food all help swelling settle.
Pain, a blocked nose and everyday life
For most patients, pain after rhinoplasty is milder than they expected. It is usually described as pressure, fullness or a headache-like feeling. We tell you which painkiller to take and how before you go home. Unless advised otherwise, avoid aspirin and other medicines or herbal supplements that can increase bleeding.
A blocked feeling during the first week is normal. It is caused by swelling of the lining of the nose, dried blood and crusts. Gently moisturising the inside of the nose with the saline spray we recommend is soothing; blowing your nose, pushing cotton buds deep inside or picking at crusts is not. If you need to sneeze, sneeze with your mouth open.
Sleep may be broken for the first few nights. Sleeping on your back with your head raised reduces swelling and protects the splint.
Eating, showering and moving around
- Eating: Food that is not too hot and needs little chewing is more comfortable at first. Drinking plenty of water helps against a dry mouth and constipation.
- Showering: The splint must stay dry. You can shower your body and wash your hair with your head tilted back so that no water runs over your face.
- Moving: Walking around the house and short distances is encouraged from the first day, as it supports circulation. Bending forward, lifting and strenuous tasks should be avoided during the first week.
- Screens and reading: No restrictions, as long as you do not keep your head bent forward for long.
Returning to exercise is planned gradually over the following weeks. We cover this in detail in a separate article.
When does the splint come off, and how will my nose look?
The splint and any internal splints are usually removed at the first check-up on day five to seven. It only takes a moment; removing internal splints may feel strange for a few seconds.
This is the first time you see your new nose, and for some patients it is a confusing moment. The bridge and especially the tip will be swollen, and the nose may look more upturned or fuller than planned. This is temporary: most of the swelling settles within the first month, while the last subtle swelling at the tip can take up to a year to resolve. We therefore advise against judging the result at the end of week one.
Tape may be applied to the nose for a few days after the splint is removed. If you wear glasses and the nasal bones were treated, you will usually need to wait a few more weeks before glasses can rest on the bridge.
When should you contact your doctor?
Most complaints in the first week are part of normal healing. However, please contact us without waiting for your check-up if you notice:
- Bright red, continuous bleeding that does not ease within 15–20 minutes of resting with your head raised
- A temperature above 38 °C, increasing redness of the nose or foul-smelling discharge
- Pain that keeps getting worse despite painkillers, or marked swelling on one side
- Blurred or double vision, or rapidly increasing swelling around the eyes
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or pain and swelling in one leg
These situations are rare, but they are much easier to manage when spotted early. For general questions, you may also find our frequently asked questions helpful.
Making the first week easier
The first week is the hardest but shortest part of rhinoplasty recovery. What helps most is knowing what to expect, having someone with you for the first days, and following the aftercare advice carefully.
If you are travelling to Izmir from another city or from abroad, we recommend staying until the first check-up; later follow-ups can often be done by video call. Dr. Özlem Yüksel Coşar discusses your personal recovery plan, based on the extent of your surgery, at your consultation and before the operation.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not replace diagnosis or treatment. The right treatment for you can only be decided after an examination, and results vary from person to person.