Postoperative Instructions
Following Intranasal Surgery
FWB 850.863.8275
Destin 850.269.6400

This information is designed to answer questions about your recovery from intranasal surgery -- which includes such procedures as septoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, rhinoplasty, turbinate reduction, etc. Should you have questions not covered in these instructions or adverse events you need to report, please call our office (FWB – 850.863.8275 or Destin – 850.269.6400). Calls for answers to routine questions should be made during our regular office hours. For emergencies, one of our physicians is on call 24 hours a day/7 days a week and can be reached by calling our office number.

Before Leaving the Hospital

Prior to discharge from the outpatient surgery center or hospital, please check with your nurse and make sure you have a postop appointment scheduled. Also ask for any medication and prescriptions that you need. You will be given prescriptions for pain medicine and occasionally an antibiotic. Other medications that maybe prescribed include nasal steroid sprays, decongestants, antihistamines, antileukotrienes, cough medicine, and saline nasal rinses. TAKE YOUR MEDICATION AS DIRECTED ON THE PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE.

Recovery at Home

1. Stay up (sitting or standing) as much as possible. By doing so you will let gravity help reduce the post op swelling as fast as possible. Sleep with your head elevated 30 to 40 degrees; this can be done by propping your head up on 2 to 3 pillows as you sleep.
    
   
2. Drainage from the nose is best handled with a small moustache-type dressing like the one the nurses applied while you were at the surgicenter. Please change these as needed. You may need to change these every 20 to 30 minutes initially, but the amount of drainage should tail off dramatically during the first 24 hours. Most patients wear these dressings for the first 48 hours after surgery. DO NOT CONSTANTLY RUB YOUR NOSE FOLLOWING SURGERY -- this will aggravate the swelling and will increase the chances of an infection or bleeding.
    
   
3. You will probably be doing more mouth breathing than you are used to immediately following surgery. This will dry out your lips and you will need to apply Chap Stick or other lip balm to moisten the lips.
    
4. If you required intranasal packing, you will have to breathe through your mouth and will have some trouble swallowing. Fortunately, the packing is usually removed within 24 to 48 hours following surgery. Sometimes, self absorbing packing will be used which should be irrigated out starting 48 hours following surgery with saline irrigations. When you come to the office to have your packs removed, your doctor may want you to take a dose of your pain medication prior to the office visit. Please check with the nurse for you specific instructions. 

Precautions -- What to Avoid

During the First 3 Days

• Avoid hot food and drink (temperature hot and spicy hot).
   
  
• Avoid sneezing or coughing through your nose -- open your mouth wide if you experience sneezing or coughing. You may also use an antihistamine to decrease the desire to sneeze.
  

During the First 7 Days

• Avoid smoking.
   
  
• Avoid alcoholic beverages (avoid as long as you are taking pain medication or antibiotics).
   
  
• Avoid all products containing aspirin or ibuprofen; avoid any other anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as coumadin or plavix.
    
• Avoid bending over of lifting any heavy object (anything over 10 pounds).
    
• DO NOT BLOW YOUR NOSE! After the first few days, you may sniff gently. Ask your doctor when you may begin to blow your nose gently.
   
• No swimming, weight lifting, running, or strenuous athletic activity for 3 weeks following surgery.

What to Report

Please report any of the following:

• Fever (temperature greater than 100.5 F taken orally).
   
  
• Excessive swelling (externally or internally). Your worst swelling should occur within the first 48 hours, after which time it should gradually subside.
  
  
• Excessive drainage. This should be subsiding after the first 48 hours following surgery.
  
  
• Any bleeding that is a steady stream and lasts more than 5 minutes.
   
  
• Excessive pain that is not controlled by your pain medication and especially if it seems to be increasing after the first 72 hours following surgery.

(Return to top of page.)