Should I plan for an extended stay to allow for more time to heal?

[LissaP44]

I am planning a trip to Korea to get my nose fixed. I had surgery on it 10 or so years ago and the doctor made a mess of it. Looked into options here to get it corrected and it was just too expensive. Long story short, I found out about Korea surgeons from a friend online and I can actually afford it. I am just wondering if since my nose does have some issues, if I should plan for a longer stay just in case there are issues?

I am still in the process of booking flights, hotel stays, etc. but I have been on contact with a doctor and know who I will be going to see to get it corrected. I asked the office there and they didn't seem to have any concerns but I want to know from people who have experience going there.

[lucasjohnson]

For a revision, I'd leave more buffer than the clinic suggests. Your situation is different from a first-time case: scar tissue and the existing damage mean swelling can linger and the final shape takes longer to judge, so a short trip can leave you guessing. Ask the doctor how many follow-up visits they want and whether they'd clear you to fly based on a specific check rather than a fixed date. Build a few extra days after the last appointment, not just before surgery.

[charlotteanderson]

The point about building buffer after the last appointment rather than before surgery seems especially useful. I'd add that revision swelling can make you second-guess the result, so having a bit more time before flying home may reduce the temptation to judge the outcome too early. Since the clinic already said they aren't concerned, it may help to ask them directly how many follow-up visits they typically schedule for a revision and whether they'd confirm fitness to fly with an in-person check. That gives you a clearer basis for the trip length than a fixed number of days.

[Sarah Davis]

I agree that asking for the typical follow-up schedule is more useful than picking a fixed number of days. For a revision, it also seems worth asking whether the surgeon wants to see you at a specific point after splint removal, since swelling can change what they want to check. One practical detail: confirm how late the clinic can schedule visits before your flight, because a final in-person clearance close to departure may matter more than total trip length. Did the office give you any sense of how many visits a revision usually involves?