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Pneumothorax Recovery Time: How Long Does It Take to Heal?
What Are the Main Treatment Options for a Collapsed Lung?
October 29, 2026
Lung Function Tests Before Lung Surgery
November 5, 2026
A pneumothorax sounds alarming, but healing tends to follow a pattern. In mild cases, the time to recover from pneumothorax is typically 2-3 weeks. If a chest tube is required, it will be approximately 1-3 weeks. It can last for up to weeks or months after the surgery. Same conditions, different time lines.
According to Dr. George Karimundackal, a Thoracic Surgeon in Mumbai, “Recovery depends on three things: how big the collapse was, how it was treated and whether the lung stays expanded on follow-up scans. Returning to activity step by step, with regular checkups, counts for more than watching the calendar.”
How Long Does It Take a Pneumothorax To Heal Completely?
The time it will take to recover from collapsed lung is primarily determined by the amount of air that leaked and by how the leak is treated.
- Those who have mild symptoms and are being monitored: The doctors may only monitor them with repeat scans. The air will be reabsorbed by the body on its own, typically in a few days to around 2 weeks.
- Cases requiring chest tube: A tube that will remove the air so that the lung can expand again. Most people get better in 1-3 weeks.
- If it’s been repaired: You will climb slower after surgery. It takes a few weeks, sometimes even months, before heavy routines feel normal.
- Recurrent or secondary cases: If COPD or another chronic lung disorder is present, recovery may be prolonged. These patients typically receive more attention and extra time.
The pneumothorax treatment page outlines the diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax by doctors.
What Are The Consequences of The Pneumothorax After It's Occurred?
Most people get back to their normal lives with a few changes.
Activity | General guidance |
Heavy lifting and intense workouts | Usually avoided for about two to four weeks after treatment, and longer after surgery |
Air travel | Generally delayed until imaging confirms the lung has re-expanded and the doctor gives clearance |
Scuba diving | Typically avoided unless surgical pleurodesis was done and a specialist approves |
Smoking | Stopping completely is advised, since it raises the chance of another collapse |
- Repeat chest X-ray at two to four weeks: This is done to see that the lung is completely open.
- Recurrence risk: There is a risk of it happening again; this is more likely to occur in smokers and those who still have lung disease.
- Tiredness and breathing: Tiredness or tightness in the chest can linger early on. It typically subsides during the settling of the lung (usually as the lung moves into its normal position).
- Chest pain or breathlessness that comes back after being better: This is a warning sign and should be checked immediately.
This is a guide to the care of the surgical incision after chest surgery, and if you’ve had surgery, you’ll find this guide helpful.
What Can Make a Collapsed Lung Heal Quickly?
The best thing that can be done is to try not to rush the healing process, but some simple day-to-day habits increase the lung’s chances of settling naturally. The strange part is that most people feel good long before the scan does as well, so patience is key.
- Avoiding Smoking: Tobacco makes lung tissue more fragile and contributes to many cases of repeated collapses. The greatest favour to the lung can be done by quitting.
- Gentle walking: It is good to do a few short, regular walks to get the blood moving, but not overloading the chest.
- Slow deep breathing: A physiotherapist can give instruction on slow, deep breathing exercises which allow the lung to expand fully.
- Rest and pain control: Rest counts, as does prescribed pain control – deep breathing is so much easier when the pain is under control.
Pneumothorax treatment guidelines provide information on how these recovery steps are made. Follow your surgeon’s recommendations.
Key Takeaways: Recovery time varies from days to a few months depending on the size, treatment and surgery. Follow-up visits are important, no tobacco and rest improves recovery time for collapsed lung. Not the feeling, but a scan, shows healing. So breathe out, and allow the lungs to rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
This will last from several weeks to a few months, depending on the procedure and your health.
Yes. Monitoring is sufficient treatment for small, stable ones as the body absorbs the air.
It can, in the majority of cases, be found in smokers and individuals with pre-existing lung disease.
Straight away. Any new chest pain or breathlessness should be checked by a doctor at the earliest opportunity.
References
- Shorthose M, Barton E, Walker S. The contemporary management of spontaneous pneumothorax in adults. Breathe (Sheffield). 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10790175
- Pneumothorax. StatPearls [Internet]. NCBI Bookshelf, National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538316/
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.