Expect a hazy, slow-to-focus feeling rather than anything painful — sedation fades gradually, so most rhinoplasty patients describe the first few minutes as cloudy rather than alarming. You'll likely notice a sense of tightness and fullness around the nose from the splint, mild nasal stuffiness, and lingering grogginess that typically clears within an hour or two of resting in the recovery area.
Dr. Kim has observed that patients usually overestimate how uncomfortable this moment will be beforehand. In practice, "that's really it?" is a far more common response after a rhinoplasty than any serious complaint about the waking-up process itself.
Consultation Tip
Arrange for a quiet, low-stimulation space to rest in for the first couple of hours after surgery — bright lights and noise tend to make the grogginess feel more disorienting than it actually is.
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— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery