Anesthesia: General.

Location of operation: Hospital or surgery center.

Length of surgery: 1-3 hours.

Length of stay: Outpatient (home same day).

Discomfort: Moderate. If your nasal bones are broken as part of the procedure, expect 5-10 days of prescription pain medication. If not, expect 2-7 days. Use a humidifier and nasal saline spray to keep your nasal passages moist and comfortable.

Bruising: Improves in 3-10 days if your nasal bones are not broken, and 7-14 days if they are. Black eyes are not unusual during this time.

Swelling: Improves in 1-6 weeks following closed rhinoplasty and 1-6 months following open. Sleeping in a recliner after surgery helps substantially. Applying ice for 2-4 days is also important.

Numbness: Numbness of the tip of your nose is expected and will last for several weeks.

Bandages: Your nose will be taped at the completion of surgery. If your nasal bones were broken; you will also receive a small cast. The cast and tape are removed in 5-10 days.

Stitches: You will have absorbable stitches on the inside of your nose. If your rhinoplasty was open, you will also have stitches under the tip of your nose. They will be removed in 4-7 days.

Packing: May be used to control bleeding. If so, it will be removed in 1-7 days. While packing is in place, it is uncomfortable. Removal is also unpleasant. This is probably the worst part of rhinoplasty.

Makeup: May be worn after the cast and tape have been removed.

Presentable in public: You will be presentable in 1-2 weeks, but you may need makeup to conceal your bruises. Swelling will last longer than bruising and may make you self-conscious, but it will not be an automatic telltale sign of rhinoplasty.

Work: You may feel capable of returning within a week, but your appearance will be the limiting factor.

Exercise: May be resumed in 3-4 weeks. Avoid contact sports for 6 weeks.

Final result: May be seen as soon as 3 months or as late as 2 years. The majority sees their final result within 6 months.