How Long After a Nose Job Before I Can Go on Vacation?

If you’ve recently had rhinoplasty and find your thoughts turning to travel, there are several considerations you need to take into account prior to booking a trip. It’s important to speak with your own surgeon before planning your trip; as a rhinoplasty specialist, he or she will best be able to help you make a good decision about any subsequent travelling you may wish to do.

Follow these three pieces of advice:

1. Talk to your surgeon about your travel plans. Work with your doctor to decide how much recovery time you’ll need before going away. Remember: whenever you plan to travel, be sure to get the go-ahead from your surgeon first.

2. Consider the risks. While the vast majority of patients don’t experience nosebleeds or infections after rhinoplasty, these types of complications tend to occur within the first three weeks of recovery. It’s best to wait at least that amount of time (or more, as per your surgeon) before heading off on vacation.

3. Use common sense. Certain activities may interfere with your recovery after rhinoplasty. Be totally honest with your surgeon about the things you plan to do while you’re away so that he or she can make recommendations to help mitigate the risk. Be sure to get the go-ahead before jumping into anything dangerous.

Typically, patients can slowly start returning to normal activity about one week after surgery and after their cast is removed with the exception of exercise. Generally, exercise is not recommended until about 4 weeks post rhinoplasty surgery, however, it is still important for patients to listen to their body and suspend anything that doesn’t feel right.

Flying is generally safe a few days after the procedure or after the incisions have healed. You should be fine in a car, too. If you’re driving yourself, it’s best to wait until you are off any pain medications that can make you drowsy.

If you do fly, nasal sprays can help relieve any discomfort due to changes in air pressure on the plane. A saline spray can also keep your nasal passages from drying out during the flight. Ask your doctor if it would be helpful to bring chewing gum on the flight to help relieve pressure.