Q. How long should I wait after rhinoplasty before going to the military?

Hello. I’m Dr. Jo Gyu-sang from AB Plastic Surgery.

Today, I’ll answer the question of how long you should wait after rhinoplasty before going to the military.

Q. How long should I wait after rhinoplasty before going to the military?

The recovery period after rhinoplasty varies depending on the type of surgery and the individual’s condition, but in general, it goes through the following stages.

Week 1: The splint is removed, most of the swelling and bruising go away, and daily life becomes possible.

Month 1: The shape of the nose stabilizes, and light physical activity is possible.

Months 2–3: The shape of the nose settles completely and becomes stable.

If you are enlisting in the military, training and physical activities may cause impact to the nose,

and if a strong impact leads to deformity of the nose or movement of an implant, it may be difficult to visit the hospital freely.

So, it is better to enlist after you have recovered sufficiently.

Considering the situations above, I recommend enlisting after at least 2–3 months of recovery.