What are the risks and recovery expectations?
Risks include infection, graft warping, chest donor-site pain, pneumothorax (rare), and nasal asymmetry. Recovery typically involves 2-3 weeks of downtime, with bruising and swelling peaking in the first week. Most patients return to non-strenuous work after 7-10 days, but full nasal settling may take 6-12 months. Follow-up care is essential to monitor graft stability.