Rhinoplasty Abroad: When Can You Fly Home?
Most people fly home about a week after a nose job in Turkey. Here is how the days there, the flight and the first weeks at home look.
The short answer: after about a week
Most people ask this before they ask anything else. How soon can I fly home after a nose job abroad?
Our advice is to plan about a week in Turkey. That gives time for the surgery, a few quiet days of rest and the splint check. After that check, you fly home.
This article is about the trip. It covers the days in Turkey, the flight home and the first weeks after you land.
In short
| ~1 | week in Turkey, with the splint check before your flight |
| 2 | weeks off work is what many people take while the bruising settles |
| 6–12 | months for the final shape of your nose to show |
Why the splint check comes first
A splint protects the nose after surgery. It usually stays on for about a week.
Then the team removes it and looks at how your nose is healing. They answer your questions and explain how to care for your nose at home. That check is your green light to travel.
Do you take medicines every day, or have you had a health problem before? Tell the surgical team before the operation. They plan your care around it.
Your days in Turkey
Your package sets your dates in Turkey, from arrival to the flight home. The hospital plans the surgery and the checks inside those dates. This is how the week often looks:
- Arrival: you meet the surgical team in person and they run the checks before the operation.
- Surgery day: the operation takes place. Many people go back to the hotel the same day or after one night.
- The first days: any packing inside the nose usually comes out after 3 to 5 days.
- End of the week: the splint comes off and the team does a final check.
- Flight day: you fly home with your care instructions.
Most of the time you rest in the hotel. The team gives you simple care rules. For example, you sneeze through your mouth and you leave your nose alone. Hard exercise and hot baths wait until later.
What the package covers
With Rehealth the package is set in two stages. You see the starting package first. Then the hospital sends a quote for your own case, after it has seen your photos.
The package covers your stay, so the hospital, the hotel and the transfers fit around your surgery. Ask what is included, and the coordinator explains it before you decide.
The rhinoplasty in Turkey page explains the methods, the starting price and the hospitals in our network.
On the flight home
Keep a few things in your hand luggage:
- your medicines and the care instructions from the hospital
- a copy of your operation notes, in English if possible
- the Rehealth app on your phone, so you can reach the team
The operation notes are useful later. If you visit your own doctor at home, they can read what was done.
The first weeks at home
The bruising around the eyes usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to go. Many people take 2 weeks off work for that reason.
The swelling goes down more slowly. Most of it is gone after a few weeks. The final shape of your nose can take 6 to 12 months to show. Until then the swelling may come and go. It is often a little more in the morning.
Give your nose time before contact sports. About 3 months is the usual advice.
You stay in touch with the hospital
At home, the team is still one message away. You stay in touch with the surgical team through the Rehealth app.
You send photo check-ins and ask your recovery questions there. If something worries you, you write to the hospital in the app and the team answers you. The hospital that treated you stays responsible for the aftercare in its plan.
Plan your week with the team that will operate.
Share your photos and get a quote from the hospital. Talk to the surgical team by video before you decide.
Plan your rhinoplasty in TurkeyFrequently asked questions
How many days after rhinoplasty can I fly?
We advise planning about a week in Turkey. The splint usually comes off after about a week, and you fly home after the final check. Your exact dates are in your package.
How long should I stay in Turkey after a nose job?
About a week. That covers the surgery, a few days of rest and the splint check. The hospital sets the days in your package.
Can I go back to work right after the flight?
Many people take 2 weeks off work. That is roughly how long the bruising around the eyes takes to fade.
When will I see the final result?
Most swelling goes down in the first weeks. The final shape can take 6 to 12 months, and sometimes longer.
Who do I contact after I get home?
The surgical team, through the Rehealth app. Send a photo with your question and the team answers you there.
References
[1] Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Rhinoplasty: discharge advice. hey.nhs.uk
[2] MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Rhinoplasty. medlineplus.gov
[3] American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Rhinoplasty recovery. plasticsurgery.org
