Rhinoplasty recovery time is longer than the week you take off. The nose you see while it is swollen is not the result. Most early limits are about protecting the nose while swelling comes down. Your own instruction sheet is the schedule to follow. This article is the shape of recovery, not a personal calendar.
The first days
Congestion is common, because you cannot blow your nose the way you normally would. A splint on the outside is often used for about a week. Bruising around the eyes, if you have it, fades before the swelling in the tip does. Sleeping with your head up, and not resting anything on the nose, is the practical work of that week. You will not see the refined shape when the splint comes off. You will see a swollen nose that is on its way.
What takes months
The tip is usually the last place to look like the plan. Swelling hides detail, especially in thicker skin. The outline keeps changing for months. Glasses that rest on the bridge wait until the surgeon clears them. So does exercise that raises your blood pressure, and anything that can bump the nose, including contact sports. Sun protection matters while the skin is healing, because a new nose burns and discolors more easily.
Numbness on the tip is common and usually improves. Stiffness when you smile can linger. Neither one is the final width of the nose. If you are comparing photos every day, you will argue with swelling. Compare on the schedule the office gives you, not every morning.
When to call
Call for bleeding that does not slow, a fever, pain that is getting worse instead of easing, or a blow to the nose. A shape you dislike in week two is almost always swelling, and it is still worth a message if you are worried. It is not a reason to book a revision. Revision is a later decision, after the nose has declared itself.
Common questions
When can I go back to work?
Desk work is often possible sooner than a job that is physical or public-facing, because bruising and the splint are visible. Ask for a range based on your job. Do not use someone else's week as your plan.
When will I see the final nose?
Not when the splint comes off. Swelling, especially in the tip, takes months to settle. Thicker skin takes longer. The surgeon should tell you when photos are worth comparing.
Can I wear glasses?
Not on the bridge until you are cleared. Glasses press on bones and swelling that are still settling. Ask what to do if you cannot wear contacts.
How the operation is done is on the rhinoplasty page.