Care After Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
A complete, step-by-step guide from surgery day to the final result — everything rhinoplasty patients need to know.
Your recovery at a glance
The normal healing journey after nose surgery, stage by stage
Surgery day to 48 hours
- Rest with your head elevated
- Cold compresses as instructed
- No nose blowing at all
- No showering — keep the splint dry
First week
- Splint and stitches removed around day seven
- Saline rinses for the inside of the nose
- Soft, high-protein diet
- Most bruising fades
From the second week
- Gentle massage and nasal taping, as taught
- Anti-scar ointment from around day twenty
- Return to work and light activity
The first months
- About 70% of swelling subsides
- Light exercise from the fourth week
- Avoid direct sun and pools
The final result
- The nose settles into its final shape
- Six-month and one-year follow-ups
Key do's and don'ts
Do's
- Keep your head higher than your body when sleeping.
- Apply cold compresses around the eyes and nose as instructed.
- Rinse the inside of the nose with the prescribed saline solution.
- Take short, gentle walks at home from day two.
- Sneeze with your mouth open so pressure stays off the nose.
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat soft, high-protein foods.
Don'ts
- Do not blow your nose under any circumstances.
- Do not rest glasses on the bridge of your nose.
- Avoid heavy activity, sudden bending and lifting heavy objects.
- Do not smoke or use hookah — it delays healing.
- Avoid spicy, very hot or very salty foods.
- Do not take a full shower until the splint is removed, and never wet the nose.
Detailed guide
How to sleep after nose surgery
Your sleeping position in the first weeks directly affects swelling and the shape of the result.
Sleep on your back for at least six weeks, with your head and neck raised on pillows to an angle of about 45 degrees. This reduces fluid pooling in the face and helps swelling subside faster.
Never sleep on your stomach or side; direct pillow contact can press on the freshly operated nose. If you share a bed, place a protective pillow between you and your partner or child so the nose is not bumped during sleep.
Keep sleeping with your head elevated for at least 4–6 weeks — the simplest way to reduce swelling and protect the new shape.
Nutrition after nose surgery
Good nutrition fuels tissue healing and shortens your recovery.
For the first 7–10 days choose soft, high-protein foods such as chicken, meat, fish and eggs; heavy chewing is tiring for the area in the early days. Keep salt intake low to reduce fluid retention and swelling.
Drinking enough water and eating fibre-rich foods helps prevent constipation, which can strain the nose. Natural juices such as celery and pineapple juice also help reduce swelling.
Do's
- Soup and soft foods in the first week
- Lean protein (chicken, fish, eggs)
- Plenty of fluids and fresh fruit
Don'ts
- Spicy, heavily seasoned foods
- Very hot or very cold food and drinks
- Alcohol and excess caffeine
- Smoking and hookah
Medications and nasal rinsing
Take your medications exactly as prescribed and on schedule.
Finish the prescribed antibiotics on time to prevent infection, and take pain relievers and anti-nausea medication as directed. Use any additional supplements for bruising and swelling according to your surgeon's recommendation.
Rinse the inside of the nose with the prescribed saline solution on schedule (usually every few hours) to clear secretions and blood clots. Use your nasal sprays exactly as directed, and do not overuse decongestant sprays.
Always check with your surgeon before taking any new medication — even a simple painkiller.
Scar care, massage and nasal taping
Correct massage and taping play a major role in a refined, lasting final shape.
Start gentle nasal massage from the second week, only after being taught by your surgeon; the usual direction is from the nostrils toward the inner corner of the eye, to ease swelling down and prevent clot build-up at the osteotomy site. Massage with clean hands and short strokes.
Apply nasal tape as you were shown: typically every other day, remove the tape in the shower, wash the skin with a gentle baby shampoo or soap, and re-tape in the taught pattern. Taping usually continues for about 2 months for bony noses and 3 months for fleshy noses.
Do not start silicone-based anti-scar ointments before day twenty after surgery, and use the brand your surgeon prescribes. Common options include Simosil, Strataderm and Rejuosil.
Activity and returning to daily life
Being patient about returning to activities is the key to preserving the result.
Gentle walking at home is fine from day two; avoid crowded places such as the metro during the first week. Heavy exercise, weight training and anything that raises your heart rate is off-limits for 4 weeks, and more intense sports become possible after 6 months.
Avoid resting glasses on the bridge of the nose for up to about a year (use contacts or a glasses holder). Pools for 2 months, sunbathing and solariums for 6 months, and diving for 6 months are all off-limits. Delay sexual activity for at least 2 weeks.
Injections, IV therapy and nursing — right at home
Some patients recovering from rhinoplasty need injections, IV/serum therapy for post-anesthesia nausea and dehydration, or a nurse's help in the first few days. Karen Darman provides these across Tehran with fast dispatch. Their site and phone line are Persian-only — just tell our reception team and we'll arrange it (and your discount) for you.
- At-home injectionsMedication, vitamin and antibiotic injections as prescribed
- At-home IV/serum therapyRelief from post-anesthesia nausea and dehydration
- At-home nursing careDedicated nursing support for the first days after surgery
Se Rokh patients get up to 300,000 Tomans off — just mention you're a Se Rokh patient when you (or our reception, on your behalf) get in touch.
See Karen Darman's home-care servicesKaren Darman is an independent company, not part of Se Rokh — we simply recommend it as a convenient add-on. Any change to medication or your care plan must still be approved by your surgeon.
When to contact the clinic
Take these signs seriously and contact your surgeon or the clinic right away:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding that dressings do not stop
- Fever, chills, or foul-smelling nasal discharge
- Sudden severe pain not controlled by painkillers
- One-sided severe swelling with pain or unusual discoloration
- Sudden difficulty breathing from one or both sides
If you visit an emergency department, always mention that you recently had nose surgery.
Frequently asked questions
The packs are usually removed about 2 days after surgery. Your surgeon sets the exact timing at your visit.
The splint and stitches are usually removed about a week after surgery during your surgeon's visit.
No heavy exercise for 4 weeks. Light walking is fine from about week four, and more intense sports from 6 months on.
Pools for 2 months, sunbathing and solariums for 6 months, and diving for 6 months are all off-limits.
About 70% of swelling subsides within 4–5 months. The final shape settles in 9–12 months for bony noses and up to 1–2 years for fleshy noses.
Usually about 2 months for bony noses and 3 months for fleshy noses, applied every other day in the pattern you were taught.
For up to about a year, avoid resting glasses on the bridge of the nose; use contact lenses or a glasses holder.
Yes; smoking and hookah are off-limits for at least 6 months and noticeably delay healing.
Yes. If you'd rather not travel to the clinic in the first few days for injections, IV/serum therapy or nursing care, you can use Karen Darman — a home-healthcare service — with a discount for Se Rokh patients. See the section above on this page for details.
This guide is general information and is not a substitute for your surgeon's specific instructions. Care details, medications and timing may differ depending on your situation; always follow your surgeon's and the clinic's directions, and contact us with any questions.
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