Korea Plastic Surgery Recovery Timeline
Select your procedure to see week-by-week milestones, activity restrictions, and what to expect at each stage.
Double eyelid (blepharoplasty)
Swelling peaks, sutures in place
Significant swelling and bruising around both eyes is normal — this is the peak. Sutures remain until approximately day 7. Keep your head elevated when resting, apply cold compresses for 48 hours, and avoid bending forward. No screens for extended periods if your eyes feel strained.
- Light walking
- Reading short periods
- Cold compresses
- Strenuous exercise
- Eye rubbing
- Swimming
- Contact lenses
Sutures out, bruising fading
Sutures are typically removed at day 7–10. Bruising transitions from dark purple to yellow-green. Swelling continues to subside. Many patients feel comfortable resuming remote office work from home this week.
- Light office work (remote)
- Short outings with sunglasses
- Warm compresses
- In-person public appearances (most patients)
- Heavy lifting
- Alcohol
Presentable; return to most activities
The majority of bruising has faded. Eyes look natural enough for most social settings with or without makeup. Most patients return to office work and light social activities this week. Double-fold crease still appears more prominent than the final result — this softens over months.
- In-person work
- Light exercise (walking, cycling)
- Make-up over healed incisions
- Contact sports
- High-impact exercise
- Heavy eyelid stretching
Progressive naturalisation
The crease continues to soften and settle. Residual swelling at the inner corner resolves gradually. Most people cannot detect any surgery signs by week 6–8. Resume all activities including exercise.
- All normal activities
- Exercise
- Swimming
Final result
The crease is fully settled and the scar along the eyelid is typically white and barely visible. Final result assessment is accurate from month 3 onward.
- Everything
Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping)
Cast on, significant periorbital bruising
An external cast or splint holds the nose in position. Expect significant bruising beneath both eyes — this is normal and does not indicate damage. Splinting keeps you home-bound. Breathe through your mouth; nasal stuffiness is expected. Head elevation is critical for the first 48 hours.
- Gentle walking indoors
- Cold compresses on cheeks (not nose)
- Liquid/soft diet
- Glasses on nose
- Blowing nose
- Bending or heavy lifting
- Sun exposure
Cast removed; nose appears swollen and broad
The cast comes off around day 7–10. Your nose will look very swollen and wider than the eventual result — this is expected and does not reflect the final outcome. Sutures (if external) are removed. The shape is not yet assessable. Most patients fly home this week.
- Gentle outdoor activity
- Return travel
- Light office work
- Glasses
- Nose touching
- Strenuous activity
- Public assessment of result
Socially presentable; rough shape visible
Bruising has substantially faded. The nose is still obviously swollen, especially the tip, but most colleagues and acquaintances will not notice. The bridge shape is beginning to be apparent. Tip remains bulbous — do not judge the result yet.
- Office work
- Light social events
- Light cardio (no jumping)
- Contact sports
- Impact to nose
- Glasses on bridge
Most swelling gone; result emerging
The bridge is largely resolved. Tip swelling is slower — the tip may still look slightly thick. Resume moderate exercise. The nose feels firm to the touch as scar tissue matures beneath the skin.
- Most exercise (avoid contact sports)
- Swimming
- Social activities
- Contact sports
- Impact
- Sustained pressure on nose (e.g. sleeping face-down)
80% of final result visible
The tip continues to refine. Most people consider the result 80% visible at this stage. Good time for a progress assessment with your surgeon (video call if you have returned home).
- All activities
- Contact sports with appropriate protection
- Hard impact to nose
Final result; tip fully refined
Tip refinement is the last to resolve. The full final result is typically considered accurate from month 6. Some tip thinning can continue to month 12. Scar tissue has fully matured.
- Everything
Jaw reduction (mandibuloplasty / V-line)
Liquid diet; peak swelling days 3–5
The face appears dramatically swollen in the first week — face wrap bandage is worn most of this time. Swelling typically peaks on days 3–5 then begins to subside. A liquid diet (protein shakes, broths, smoothies) is mandatory. Drainage tubes may be present for 1–2 days. Sleep with head significantly elevated.
- Liquid diet
- Gentle walking
- Cold compresses on cheeks
- Solid food
- Chewing
- Opening mouth wide
- Heavy activity
- Blowing nose
Bandage removed; soft foods begin
The bandage is usually removed around day 7–10. The face looks very swollen — this is the stage where patients most need reassurance that the result is not visible yet. Begin soft foods (tofu, soft rice, scrambled eggs). Internal sutures dissolve over weeks.
- Soft food diet
- Short walks
- Light remote work (minimal talking)
- Hard or chewy food
- Talking excessively
- Vigorous activity
- Contact sport
Swelling reducing; jawline beginning to show
Visible improvement week-on-week. Some patients return to work by week 3–4 depending on job type. The jawline is beginning to narrow but still has significant residual puffiness. Numbness of the chin and lower lip is normal and resolves over weeks to months.
- Semi-solid foods
- Office work (minimal talking)
- Light outdoor activity
- Hard or chewy food
- Impact sport
- Dental procedures during healing
Substantial reduction in swelling; socialising resumes
Most patients feel comfortable in social situations by week 6–8. The jawline is clearly slimmer. Numbness is slowly resolving. Transition to normal diet is possible for most soft/normal foods by week 6.
- Most foods (avoid very hard/crunchy)
- Exercise (no contact sports)
- Normal social life
- Hard crunchy foods
- Contact sports
- Dental procedures
Bone remodelling underway; numbness resolving
The bone is remodelling and the face contour continues to improve. Most numbness has resolved. Full chewing function returns for virtually all foods.
- Full diet
- All exercise
- Contact sports with protection
Final result
Bone remodelling is complete. The final V-line or oval face contour is fully apparent. Any residual swelling (typically only visible to the patient themselves) resolves by month 6.
- Everything
Face lifting (rhytidectomy)
Bandages and drains; complete rest
Compression bandages are applied. Thin drainage tubes are removed at day 1–2. Significant swelling and bruising across the face and neck is normal. Keep head elevated at all times. Do not eat hard food. Minimal talking. This week is for rest only.
- Gentle short walks
- Liquid and soft diet
- Elevation and cold compress
- Any exertion
- Bending
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Heat (hot shower, sun)
Bandages off; sutures removed; bruising visible
Facial bandage is removed. Sutures are removed in stages (typically day 7 and day 10–14 for hairline sutures). Face appears very bruised and puffy. The skin may feel tight or numb — this normalises. Most patients fly home during this window if returning abroad.
- Light indoor activities
- Soft diet
- Short trips outdoors with sunglasses and hat
- Heat
- Strenuous activity
- Makeup over healing incisions
- Hair colouring
Bruising fades; office work resumes
Bruising transitions from yellow-green to barely visible. Most patients return to office work by week 3–4, with careful makeup application. The skin still feels somewhat tight and some numbness persists (resolves over months). The result is not yet assessable.
- Office work
- Social activities (with makeup)
- Light walking and gentle yoga
- Vigorous exercise
- Saunas
- Heavy lifting
- Hair colouring
Most visible recovery complete
Most patients look entirely normal by week 6. Swelling continues to resolve underneath the skin. Scars along the hairline and ear are healing — typically pale pink. Numbness continues to resolve. Resume most exercise.
- Most exercise
- Social events
- Most hairstyles
- High-impact exercise
- Direct sun on scars (SPF required)
- Hair dye near scars
Natural result emerging
The lifted tissue has settled. Scars are maturing and fading. The face looks natural and refreshed, not surgical. Deep skin tightness has resolved. Good time for progress photos.
- All activities
Final result
Scars have faded to thin white lines, typically hidden in hairline and ear crease. The full lifted result is stable. Most patients see their result remain stable for 5–10 years depending on skin quality and lifestyle.
- Everything
Liposuction (single area)
Compression garment; soreness and bruising
A compression garment is worn 24/7 for the first weeks. Expect significant soreness (like deep muscle ache) and bruising over the treated area. Incision points (3–5mm) are dressed. Light walking is encouraged from day 1 to promote circulation. Some fluid drainage through incisions is normal in the first 24–48 hours.
- Gentle walking
- Light home activities
- Rest
- Strenuous activity
- Removing compression garment (except shower)
- Smoking
- Alcohol
Return to light work; swelling still present
Most patients return to desk work by day 7–10. Swelling typically peaks around day 5 and begins to subside. The treated area feels firm and uneven — this is normal fluid redistribution and temporary. The garment continues full-time.
- Desk work
- Light activities
- Driving (if not using prescription pain medication)
- Heavy lifting
- High-impact exercise
- Hot baths
- Alcohol
Garment to part-time; resume exercise
Garment transitions from full-time to daytime only (or as surgeon advises). Swelling continuing to reduce. Light exercise (walking, stationary cycling, gentle swimming) is typically approved.
- Light exercise
- Most social activities
- Reduced garment wear
- Impact sport
- Heavy lifting
- Direct heat on treated area
Contour emerging; full exercise
The treated area looks and feels significantly more normal. Resume all exercise including weights and cardio. Garment wear typically discontinued. Contour continues to improve as lymphatic drainage normalises.
- All exercise
- Normal activities
Final contour visible
Full result is apparent. Some mild residual firmness may persist to month 6 as the deep tissue fully heals. Skin retraction (skin conforming to new contour) continues throughout this period.
- Everything
Breast augmentation
Surgical bra; arm movement restricted
A surgical bra provides compression and support. Arms should not be raised above shoulder height. Soreness beneath the chest is significant if implants are placed sub-muscular. Avoid lying on your front. Thin drainage tubes (if used) are removed at 24–48 hours. Rest is important but short walks are encouraged.
- Gentle short walks
- Desk tasks (limited arm movement)
- Rest
- Lifting arms above shoulders
- Heavy lifting
- Driving
- Lying on front or side
Sutures dissolve; return to light work
Internal sutures are dissolving. External suture strips (if used) may be removed at day 10–14. Most patients return to light desk work. Surgical bra continues. Implants sit high on the chest at this stage — they will settle over weeks to months.
- Desk work
- Light activities
- Careful driving (check with surgeon)
- Heavy lifting
- Arms above shoulder
- Underwire bras
- Impact activity
Implants beginning to settle
The tightness and muscle soreness (sub-muscular placement) is substantially improved. Implants are beginning to descend from their initially high position. Light exercise is typically approved.
- Light cardio (walking, stationary bike)
- Most social activities
- Underwire bra transition (surgeon approval)
- Chest exercises
- High-impact cardio
- Heavy lifting overhead
Resume most activities; implants settling well
Implants are settling into natural position. Most exercise can resume including moderate cardio. Chest/pectoral exercises should wait until surgeon approval.
- Moderate cardio
- Most activities
- Normal bras
- Heavy chest exercises
- Impact sport with chest contact risk
Natural appearance; all activities resume
Implants have settled into natural position. Scars at the incision site are maturing. Resuming all activities including chest exercise (with surgeon sign-off at 3-month appointment).
- All exercise
- All activities
Final result
Implants are fully settled. Scars have faded to thin pale lines. The final shape and position are stable. Annual check-in with your surgeon is recommended.
- Everything
Recovery timelines are compiled from standard Korean plastic surgery post-operative protocols, peer-reviewed literature on common cosmetic procedures, and KSPRS surgeon guidance. Timelines vary by individual healing rate, technique used, and surgeon-specific protocols. Always follow your surgeon's written post-operative instructions, which take precedence over general estimates.
2026-07-28
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