What Not To Do After Rhinoplasty

The single most useful thing to know after a nose job is what not to do. Most of the don'ts share one theme: avoid anything that raises your blood pressure, puts pressure on the nose, or slows healing, while the bones and cartilage settle. This guide is the honest, complete list of things to avoid after rhinoplasty, with a short summary of each and a link to our detailed page where we have one.

The timings below are the ranges most commonly advised. They are a guide, not a rule, so always confirm your own timeline with your surgeon. For the week-by-week recovery picture see our rhinoplasty healing stages, and for your day-to-day instructions see our rhinoplasty aftercare guide.

What Not To Do After Rhinoplasty

What not to do after rhinoplasty, and for how long

1. Don't blow your nose

For at least the first two to three weeks, or about four weeks after septorhinoplasty, revision or graft surgery, blowing your nose can cause bleeding and disturb the internal healing. If you need to sneeze, do it with your mouth open; see what to do if you sneeze or knock your nose. See blowing your nose after rhinoplasty for when it is safe again.

2. Don't do strenuous exercise or heavy lifting

Gentle walking is encouraged, but raising your heart rate and blood pressure risks bleeding and more swelling. Light exercise commonly resumes around two to three weeks, light jogging around four to six weeks, and heavy lifting and full workouts from six weeks or more. See exercise after rhinoplasty.

3. Don't rest glasses on the bridge of your nose

The weight of glasses or sunglasses can dent or shift the healing bone, usually for around six weeks, sometimes longer. Use contact lenses or tape the glasses to your forehead. See wearing glasses after rhinoplasty.

4. Don't smoke, vape or use nicotine

Nicotine narrows the blood vessels that carry the blood supply healing needs, raising the risk of poor scarring, infection and, rarely, skin problems. Stop about two weeks before surgery and for at least four to six weeks after, and longer if you can. See smoking before and after rhinoplasty.

5. Don't get the splint wet, and avoid swimming

Keep the splint dry until it is removed, usually about a week, and avoid swimming pools and the sea for several weeks, as the water can irritate incisions and a knock in the pool can affect the result. Our guide to cleaning your nose after rhinoplasty explains gentle washing meanwhile.

6. Don't have very hot showers, saunas, or hot food and drink

Heat widens blood vessels and increases swelling for the first couple of weeks, so keep showers lukewarm and food and drink cool or at room temperature. See our aftercare guide for heat and washing, and eating after rhinoplasty.

7. Don't fly until your surgeon says it is safe

Cabin pressure changes can aggravate swelling, and the main early concern is bleeding. Short flights are often fine after around one to two weeks with your surgeon's agreement. See flying after rhinoplasty.

8. Don't sunbathe or use sunbeds

Healing skin burns easily, and ultraviolet light can worsen swelling and darken a healing scar. Avoid direct sun for the first couple of weeks and use a high-factor sunscreen for several months afterwards. This is careful sun protection while you heal, not a permanent ban.

9. Don't touch, bump, or rest anything on your nose

This is the highest-stakes physical risk. While the bones are still mobile, a knock can move them and undo the result, so protect the nose for around six weeks and be gentle for longer. See what to do if you knock your nose after rhinoplasty.

10. Don't rush back to sexual activity

Exertion, raised blood pressure and any contact with the nose can cause bleeding and swelling. Gentle activity is usually fine after about two weeks, with more vigorous activity a little later. See resuming sex after rhinoplasty.

11. Don't take blood-thinning medicines or supplements without advice

Aspirin, ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatories, along with supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, garlic and ginkgo, can increase bleeding and bruising, so they are usually paused around surgery. Important: if you take a prescribed blood thinner such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban or clopidogrel, never stop or change it yourself. Only the doctor who prescribed it should manage that around your operation.

12. Don't drive too soon

Do not drive on the day of surgery or while you are taking sedating pain medication, as it slows your reaction time and can affect your insurance. Many people return to short drives within a few days once they are off strong painkillers, and to longer drives within a week or two.

13. Don't go back to work or normal activity too early

Desk-based work is often possible after about a week, and more physical work after around two weeks, once the splint is off and the swelling has begun to settle. Going back too soon tends to increase swelling. Our healing stages guide sets out what to expect.

14. Don't sleep flat or face-down

Keep your head elevated, propped on a couple of pillows, for the first one to two weeks to limit swelling, and avoid sleeping on your front for about six weeks so nothing presses on the nose. Sleeping on your side is fine from the first night with your head raised. See sleeping after rhinoplasty.

15. Don't drink alcohol early on

Alcohol thins the blood, worsens swelling and does not mix with pain medication, so it is usually avoided for about two weeks, and until you have finished painkillers and any antibiotics. See drinking after rhinoplasty.

16. Don't wear makeup over the nose too soon

Wait around two weeks, until the skin and any incisions have healed and Mr Shoaib is happy, before applying makeup over the nose, and be gentle when you do. Makeup on the rest of your face is usually fine within a few days. See makeup after rhinoplasty.

17. Don't pick your nose or put anything inside it

Keep fingers, tissues and cotton buds out of your nose for 3 weeks, or 4 weeks after septorhinoplasty, revision or graft surgery. If you need to clean, use a cotton bud soaked in saline at the nostril rim only, avoid hydrogen peroxide, and if you use anything, use only Vaseline, and only at the nostril edge. See can I pick my nose after rhinoplasty?

18. Don't wear tops that pull over your head

While the splint is on, wear button or zip-front clothes so nothing catches the splint or knocks your nose as you dress.

What Can Actually Ruin Your Rhinoplasty Result?

It helps to separate the don'ts that are mainly about comfort from the few that can genuinely affect your result. Being honest, these are the ones that matter most:

• Knocking or pressing the nose while the bones are still mobile, which is the biggest avoidable risk and can move them out of position.
• Smoking or nicotine, which reduces the blood supply healing depends on and raises the risk of poor healing and scarring.
• Early strenuous activity, which raises blood pressure and can cause bleeding, a haematoma, or prolonged swelling.
• Sun exposure, which can worsen swelling and darken a healing scar.
• Resting glasses on the bridge, which can dent soft, healing bone.

None of these means a single slip guarantees a poor result. They are simply the reasons we ask you to be careful, so the nose you have healed for is the nose you keep.

The Do's: What Actually Helps

• Rest for the first few days and let your body heal.
• Keep your head elevated, day and night early on, to limit swelling.
• Use a cold compress around, not pressing on, the nose and eyes in the first 48 to 72 hours.
• Stay hydrated and eat well to support healing.
• Take gentle walks to keep your circulation going.
• Follow your aftercare and attend every follow-up, and be patient, as the final result keeps refining for months.

When To Seek Urgent Help

Most recovery is straightforward, but contact the clinic or seek urgent medical care straight away if you have heavy bleeding that will not stop, spreading redness, warmth or a fever that could suggest infection, sudden or severe difficulty breathing, or any change in your vision. These are uncommon, but they should be seen promptly.

Why Read This From A Rhinoplasty Surgeon

This page is reviewed by Mr Taimur Shoaib, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register (GMC 3615443) who performs rhinoplasty at Berkeley Square Medical, 64 Harley Street. The don'ts that matter most in practice are the ones that protect the healing bones and the blood supply, so if you remember only a few, make them: do not knock the nose, do not smoke, and do not push your blood pressure up too soon. For anything specific to your recovery, your own surgeon's advice always comes first.