You will have stitches inside your nose. These stitches are dissolvable and do not need to be removed. Occasionally, a stitch will come loose and it will feel like a long thread. This should be cut rather than pulled out as it may affect your surgical result.
You may feel some dissolvable stitches at the front of one of the nostrils. These can be safely ignored and will disappear after a week or two. Nasal saline rinses are the most important tool in restoring air flow through the nose.
Most people recover fully in 1 to 2 months. You will have to visit your doctor during the 3 to 4 months after your surgery. Your doctor will check to see that your nose is healing well. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.
An incision is made within the nose, and the lining is lifted off of the crooked cartilage and bone. These structural elements are then straightened in a variety of ways and the lining is then returned to its original place. Dissolvable stitches are used to keep the lining in place during healing.
Most often the intranasal packing is absorbable, however on occasion non-absorbable packing is required for your surgery. Do not disturb this packing. Occasionally, a black or white string will be seen coming out of one or both sides of the nose. This is attached to the packing and should neither be cut nor pulled.
Within days, most people are already experiencing some relief from the frustrating symptoms previously caused by a deviated septum. Once surgical recovery is over, which usually takes 2-4 weeks, the nasal passages should be more open, leading to better nasal drainage and breathing, but results can depend on the person.
Nasal splints
Splints are two pieces of plastic held in place with a stitch inside your nose. Although they are used to provide the best long-term results, they can produce temporary discomfort, and difficulty to breathe through the nose if this happens.
Internal rhinoplasty stitches are often used inside your nose during surgery. They dissolve roughly 10 days later – but sometimes not uniformly – meaning one might hang around a little longer and start to irritate you. You could notice a stitch up to 6 months after surgery.
You will have to sleep with your head elevated for 24-48 hours after surgery to help the bleeding slow down and help the swelling resolve. Prior to surgery, set up your bed with at least two pillows so you can prop your head up at night.
Dissolvable stitches are used to close the wound after the ENT doctor straightens the septum. While the nose is healing, you may experience a pinching feeling. Dissolvable stitches, as the name implies, can be removed without the need of tweezers.
You will have swelling inside your nose after surgery. Your nose may drain and bleed a little for 2 to 5 days after surgery. Your nose, cheeks, and upper lip may be numb. The numbness on the tip of your nose may take several months to completely go away.
It's still possible that cartilage and tissue may gradually move or reshape over time. Some changes can still occur for up to a year or more after surgery.
Sneezing can cause further trauma to the fragile, yet sensitive nose and compromise the procedure's results. If possible, avoid sneezing through your nose for the first week or two during recovery to reduce pressure in your nose and airways to keep the sutures intact and minimize bleeding, swelling, and pain.
If you sleep on your side, the lower nostril will likely become plugged while you sleep, and since you can't blow your nose, this congestion can be uncomfortable. Sleeping on your back in an elevated position is the best-case scenario for post-rhinoplasty sleep. Grab some extra pillows!
It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal.
Many people worry when they can feel their dissolvable stitches under their incision, even after it appears to have completely healed. Usually, this is not a cause for concern. It is normal to be able to feel internal sutures.
And not just when they go in, they can hurt for a few days afterward. It's because your immune system uses an inflammatory reaction to get rid of them. Inflammatory reactions cause pain!
You should not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or make any major decisions for at least 24 hours after surgery. Your anesthesia may make you groggy and it will be hard to think clearly. The effects should wear off in about 24 hours. Limit activities that could make you fall or put more pressure on your face.
Splints help to keep the septum in place while it heals. The splints are removed at your first post operative visit 1 week after surgery. The splints are secured in place with a stitch. The splints have tubes that allow your to breath while they are in place.
Patients will say they experience minor discomfort or a feeling of pressure at most, but keep in mind that any minor discomfort or pressure felt is immediately followed by a sense of relief, and any feeling of discomfort does not linger.
One of the risks and complications from septoplasty is damage to the septum or cartilage in the nose. A perforated septum, septal hematoma or infection can be complications of septoplasty, causing a weakened nasal structure that can lead to a bridge collapse.
7–10 days In the second week, you should notice an improvement in your breathing, as well as less pain in your nose. There will still be some crusting and dryness in your nose. Do not blow your nose too hard.