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Post-operative advice for patients undergoing septorhinoplasty surgery

1. You will either stay overnight or be discharged the morning after surgery depending on how well you are feeling. If you go home on the day of surgery you will require a friend or relative to pick you up from the hospital and you will need to have someone with you at home for the first night.
2. Depending on the degree of surgery on the internal nasal passages you will feel blocked for the first 1-2 weeks after the surgery and this will then gradually improve.
3. Your nose will bleed a little after the operation. We may insert nasal packs during the operation and these are removed before you leave hospital. Very occasionally a patient may require further treatment to stop post-operative haemorrhage.
4. You will have bruising and swelling under your eyes and around your nose after the surgery. The majority of the swelling goes down in the first 1-2 weeks but a small amount will remain and will continue to reduce in the following weeks. The bruising is much improved after 2 weeks although mild signs of bruising may take longer to completely resolve.
5. The surgery is not particularly painful although you may feel ‘under the weather’ due to postoperative nasal blockage.
6. You will be given pain killers and sometimes antibiotics to take home with you from the hospital.
7. Your nose will feel slightly numb after the surgery. Sensation will gradually return with time.
8. You will have a nasal splint on the outside of your nose for a period of 5-7 days.
9. If the surgery is performed using an ‘open approach’ you will have fine stitches that will need to be removed from the skin between your nostrils between 5 and 7 days. The application of Vaseline to the incision and just inside the nostrils twice a day for the first week is helpful as it prevents crusting. The incision invariably heals well. If the surgery is performed by the ‘closed approach’ there will be no stitches to remove. All the stitches within the nose are dissolvable.
10. You should only blow your nose gently for the first 2 weeks after your surgery. If you sneeze, try to let it out through your mouth
11. The inside of your nose will contain dry blood and mucus after the surgery. You should keep the inside of your nose moist for the first 2 weeks after the surgery. This can be done by using a salt water spray.
12. Wearing contact lenses after the operation is ideal but if you need to wear glasses you will need to tape them to your forehead for at least 2 weeks. This prevents pressure being applied to the nose.
13. Avoid physical exertion for 2 weeks after surgery and then gradually increase to your normal level of exercise. Avoid contact sports for 6 weeks.
14. Protect against sun exposure with high factor block for 6 weeks after the surgery.
15. The surface of the nose after surgery does not always feel smooth and may have minor irregularities. This is normal; it is the appearance that is most important.
16. Our aim is that your expectations are realised and we will do everything that we can to achieve this. If you have any concerns after the surgery please do not hesitate to contact us. We will arrange a follow appointment 5 to 7 days after your operation.