If you live in Mumbai and are considering rhinoplasty in Dubai, the whole journey fits into one planned trip of about 7 to 9 days. Mumbai to Dubai is a flight of roughly three hours, and Dubai runs 1 hour 30 minutes behind India time, so travel and follow-up calls are simple to arrange.
Dr Sanjay Parashar has performed rhinoplasty since 1993 and in Dubai since 2005, with more than 3,000 rhinoplasties to date. He has trained and taught in India, including as aesthetic faculty with AIIMS and the National Board of Examinations, and understands the noses, skin types and expectations of Indian patients. This guide walks Mumbai patients through each stage: the online consultation, how long to stay, what the nose looks like on each day of the trip, and how follow-up works once you are back home. For an overview of all options, see rhinoplasty for patients from Mumbai.
Step 1: Your online consultation from Mumbai
Your first consultation can happen from home in Mumbai. You send photos and a short history on WhatsApp, then talk to Dr Sanjay on a video call. This tells you whether rhinoplasty suits your concerns before you book any flights.
What photos to send
Take the photos in daylight, facing a window, against a plain wall. Tie your hair back, remove glasses and make-up, and keep a neutral expression. Ask someone to hold the phone at your eye level, about an arm’s length away, without zoom or filters.
- Front view, looking straight at the camera
- Right side profile
- Left side profile
- Right three-quarter view (face turned halfway)
- Left three-quarter view
- Base view: chin tilted up so the nostrils are visible
- A smiling front view, as the tip can move when you smile
What to tell us with your photos
- What bothers you most about your nose, in your own words
- Any breathing difficulty, blocked side, snoring or sinus problems
- Any previous nose surgery, nasal injury or fillers in the nose
- Medical conditions, regular medicines and allergies
- Your preferred travel dates from Mumbai
What the video consultation covers
Dr Sanjay discusses what can and cannot be changed, whether breathing can be improved at the same time, and whether a non-surgical option or no treatment would serve you better. As with every patient, the final surgical plan and quote are confirmed only after an in-person examination in Dubai. Photos guide the plan; the examination confirms it.
Step 2: How long to stay in Dubai, and when to fly home
Plan to stay in Dubai for about 7 to 9 days. Arrive one or two days before surgery for your in-person examination. On day 5 the splint is removed, the nose is cleaned and a moldable aluminium splint is fitted, and you can usually fly home to Mumbai on day 6 or 7 with light tapes on the nose.
Important: Do not book a return flight for the day after surgery. In the first days the nose is splinted, swollen and blocked, and it needs to be cleaned, re-splinted and checked in person before you leave. Book a flexible or changeable return ticket so the date can move if your surgeon asks you to stay a little longer.
Your trip, day by day
| Day | Where you are | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day −2 to −1 | Dubai | Arrive from Mumbai, rest, in-person examination, final plan and quote confirmed, pre-operative tests |
| Day 0 | Hospital | Rhinoplasty under general anaesthesia; you wake with an external splint. Most patients go back to their hotel the same day or the next morning, with a companion |
| Days 1–3 | Hotel | Peak swelling and bruising around the eyes. Rest with your head raised, cold compresses around (not on) the nose, medicines as prescribed |
| Day 4 | Hotel, short walks | Swelling starts to ease. Light walking is fine; no gym, swimming, sun on the nose or heavy lifting |
| Day 5 | Clinic | Splint removed and nose cleaned. A moldable aluminium splint is fitted with tapes, and you are taught how to remove and reapply it yourself |
| Day 6 or 7 | Airport | Fly back to Mumbai with light tapes on the nose, once Dr Sanjay confirms you are fit to fly. Reapply the splint when you get home |
| Day 8 onwards | Mumbai | Return to the office without the splint, and reapply it whenever you are at home, for about one month |
Who should come with you
Bring a family member or friend from Mumbai. You will need someone with you on surgery day and for the first night, and it helps to have company for the first few days in the hotel.
Before you book
- Check the current UAE visit-visa requirements for your passport well before travel
- Choose a hotel close to the clinic on Al Wasl Road to keep journeys short
- Avoid planning weddings, family functions or work travel for the two weeks after you return
Step 3: Swelling and the splint on a short trip
On a short trip you will see the early part of healing in Dubai and the rest at home in Mumbai. Knowing what to expect at each stage stops normal swelling from becoming a worry.
- In Dubai (days 0–5): Swelling and bruising peak in the first three days, then ease. Breathing through the nose is limited while the first splint is on. On day 5 it is replaced with a moldable aluminium splint.
- Flying home (day 6 or 7): You travel with light tapes on the nose rather than the splint. The nose is still swollen and may feel blocked on the flight. Carry the splint, saline spray and prescribed medicines in your hand luggage, keep sipping water, and avoid alcohol on board.
- Back in Mumbai (week 2): Reapply the splint when you reach home. From day 8 you can return to the office without it. Most bruising fades this week and can be covered with make-up.
- Weeks 2–4: Keep wearing the splint whenever you are at home, for about one month after surgery.
- Weeks 3–6: Light exercise from about three weeks, full gym from about six weeks, if your surgeon agrees. The tip still feels firm.
- Month 3: The profile is much clearer. Glasses can usually rest on the nose again.
- Months 12–18: The last swelling in the tip settles; this takes longer with thicker skin, which is common in South Asian noses, and after revision surgery.
Your moldable splint at home
Before you leave Dubai, the team shows you how to take the aluminium splint off, clean the skin, and put it back on with fresh tapes. Practise in the clinic until you are comfortable doing it yourself.
- Wear it whenever you are at home, including overnight, for about one month
- Keep the skin under it clean and dry before taping
- Press it gently into shape; never force it against the nose
- If the tapes irritate your skin, or you are unsure the splint is sitting right, send a photo to the clinic on WhatsApp
Looking after your nose in Mumbai
- Sleep with your head raised on two pillows for the first one to two weeks
- Do not blow your nose for two weeks; sneeze with your mouth open
- Avoid crowded local trains and jostling crowds for the first few weeks, as a knock to the nose matters early on
- Protect the nose from the sun and use SPF for several months, especially outdoors in Mumbai’s heat
- Avoid steam rooms, swimming and humid, dusty work sites until cleared
- No smoking or vaping, as both slow healing
Timings are typical, not guaranteed. Healing varies with skin thickness, the extent of surgery and whether it is a first or revision operation. See the full rhinoplasty recovery guide for more detail.
Step 4: Follow-up by video from India
Your follow-up continues after you fly home. Reviews take place by video call from Mumbai at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, and you can see Dr Sanjay in person whenever you are next in Dubai.
Before each video review, send fresh photos in the same seven views as your first consultation, taken in the same light. Comparing like with like is how small changes in swelling and shape are tracked over the year.
Between scheduled reviews, the clinic team is reachable on WhatsApp. If something worries you, message with a photo rather than waiting for your next appointment.
When to contact the clinic straight away
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
- Fever, or increasing redness, pain or swelling after the first few days
- A knock or injury to the nose
- Sudden difficulty breathing
If you have heavy bleeding or difficulty breathing, go to the nearest emergency department in Mumbai first, then let the clinic know.
Step 5: How we keep the trip safe and low-stress
Travelling for surgery should feel planned, not rushed. Every step is built around safety first, then comfort.
- Assessed before you fly: Your photos and history are reviewed before you book, so you do not travel for an operation that does not suit you.
- Confirmed in person: The final plan is agreed only after a face-to-face examination in Dubai, including a check of your septum and breathing.
- Surgery in a hospital setting: Rhinoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia, with an anaesthetist and a trained surgical and nursing team.
- Checked before you leave: You fly home only after your nose has been cleaned, re-splinted and checked, you have been shown how to manage the splint yourself, and Dr Sanjay confirms you are fit to travel.
- A plan for home: You leave with written aftercare, your medicines and a direct WhatsApp line to the clinic team.
- Your identity kept: Planning starts from your whole face. For Indian noses, which often have thicker skin and a softer tip, the aim is refinement in keeping with your features, not a borrowed template. Read more about ethnic rhinoplasty.
As with any operation, rhinoplasty carries risks. These are discussed openly with you at consultation, together with how they are reduced and managed.
Frequently asked questions from Mumbai patients
Can I have a rhinoplasty consultation from Mumbai before travelling?
Yes. Send your photos and history on WhatsApp, then speak with Dr Sanjay on a video call. The final plan is confirmed after an in-person examination in Dubai.
How many days should I stay in Dubai for rhinoplasty?
Plan for about 7 to 9 days: one or two days before surgery, and six or seven days afterwards, until the splint has been changed on day 5 and you are cleared to fly.
When can I fly back to Mumbai after rhinoplasty?
Most patients fly home on day 6 or 7, with light tapes on the nose, after the splint has been changed and the nose checked. Your surgeon confirms the date for you.
Will people in Mumbai notice I have had surgery?
By the second week most bruising has faded and can be covered. Some swelling remains for months, but it is usually noticed more by you than by others.
How is follow-up done once I am back in India?
By video call at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with photos sent before each review, and in person whenever you are next in Dubai.
Do you understand Indian nose types?
Yes. Dr Sanjay trained and taught in India and regularly treats South Asian patients, whose noses often need a different approach to skin thickness and tip support.
How do I get a quote?
A quote is given once Dr Sanjay has reviewed your photos and examined you in person, because the plan depends on your anatomy.
Book your online consultation from Mumbai
Start with photos and a video call before you plan any travel. Message the clinic on WhatsApp at +971 50 919 8203, call the India line on +91 95608 01896, or email drsanjayparashar@outlook.com.
Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation, Villa 898, Al Raaji Street, Al Wasl Road, Dubai.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr Sanjay Parashar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon · DHA licence 00244892 · October 2026.