Recovery travel guide
Rhinoplasty abroad: where to recover and what you can do
You wear a splint for 1 to 2 weeks and swelling lasts 4 to 6 weeks. The rules are about protecting the nose from knocks, pressure, sun and heat, keeping your head up and not lifting anything heavy.
Confirm with your surgeon. These are general activity limits from published aftercare guidance. Your clinic's written instructions always come first, and they may be stricter or looser for your procedure.
Compare cities for rhinoplasty
| City | Safe things to do on days 1 to 3 | Safe things on day 10 | Weather | Clinics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IstanbulTürkiye | 6 to 10 | 11 | Hot, sunny summers (often above 28°C in July and August) and cool, wet winters. | Get quotes |
Counts are activities from our city lists that fit the published activity limits on those days. More cities are coming.
Recovery timeline
- Days 1 to 3
Splint and possibly packing. Swelling and bruising around the nose and eyes. Head elevated, cool compresses on the cheeks, no nose blowing.
- Days 4 to 6
Pain usually eases within a few days to a week. Short, calm outings in the shade, away from crowds.
- Days 7 to 10
The splint usually comes off around the end of the first week. You can see the new shape, still swollen. No glasses resting on the bridge.
- Weeks 2 to 6
Light exercise from about 4 to 6 weeks and no heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks. Swelling keeps going down for months.
Typical stay: 7 to 10 days, so the splint can be removed by your surgeon before you fly.
Day-by-day guides
Rhinoplasty
Istanbul
10 days, day by day. You wear a splint for 1 to 2 weeks and swelling lasts 4 to 6 weeks.
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Questions people ask
Sources
- Rhinoplasty: recovery and outlook. Cleveland Clinic. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Rhinoplasty recovery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): long journeys. NHS (UK). Checked 2 November 2026.