Is it safe to get rhinoplasty when you have a cold?

Wait for the OR: As a surgeon the first rule is minimize risk. Having a cold means that you are not in perfect health. The cold can affect your breathing, irritate your lungs and airway. You should not have anesthesia when you are sick. It may be inconvenient but it is much safer.

Not a good idea: As rhinoplasty surgery is elective you should only have this type of surgery when you are healthy. If you have a cold or the flu it might delay your healing and make you much more uncomfortable after surgery as you will have excessive swelling in your nose causing difficulty breathing. If you have a fever it will make it hard to tell if you have a surgical infection or an anesthesia complication.

Depends: If you have a fever or productive cough i would reschedule surgery. If you have a resolving cold without those symptoms it may be ok to proceed if your lungs are clear.

Yes: While it is probably safe to undergo a rhinoplasty when you have a mild cold, which is usually a virus, and not a bacterial infection, a good surgeon does not want to expose you to any undue risk if it can be avoided. Our primary concern is your safety. A cold can also be an indicator of some other issue which can potentially compromise your safety. Just be aware that we are thinking of you 1st.