As we've seen, nose jobs usually aren't very painful, though some clients may report some tenderness or some aches due to that congestion and sinus pressure. Your surgeon will be able to talk with you in advance about some pain management options, and to provide you with a prescription you can fill for pain relief.

Recovery occurs in stages. You’ll be able to return to work much sooner than you’ll be fully healed.

The First Few Days
After nose surgery, your nose will be placed in a splint and heavily bandaged. Typically this splint is removed at 5-6 days post-surgery. Many patients choose to return to work around this time. You’ll notice and immediate improvement in the shape and appearance of your nose at this point, even though some swelling and bruising will remain. Many patients are able to return to work, do light activity, go out in public, etc. within a few days of surgery.

To help with a quicker recovery, you can do a few things at home, including taking Arnica tablets, drinking pineapple juice and taking vitamin C supplements, sleeping with the head of your bed elevated and applying cold compresses for the first few days.

A Few Weeks After Surgery
After a few weeks of healing, you can resume light exertion exercise. Take it easy and certainly avoid full-contact sports, but you can start moving and exercising again. The surgeon will explain which activities you can resume and which should be avoided. Following your recovery instructions is essential for the best results.

Swelling can take quite a while to fully resolve. You should see great improvement a couple of months after surgery, but some swelling can remain for a year or more. Be patient and give the swelling time to resolve. It will get better, but you do need to be patient. Choosing a highly skilled, plastic surgeon is important. The swelling does take time to resolve, but in the meantime, you can remain confident that your new nose will look amazing based on the surgical expertise of your selected surgeon.

Six Months Post-Op
After six months, you can usually resume contact sports and heavy physical activity. You may want to protect your nose using a nose guard or a facial mask. At this time, you should see dramatic improvement in the swelling of your nose and will be able to get a good idea of what your final result should look like.

While there is no definite right age to get a nose reshaping done, between 18 and 40 is considered an ideal range. By this time you have developed physically and in maturity to be a good candidate for rhinoplasty, and your skin still maintains youthful elasticity.