Prop up your head 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.
Do not lie flat. Raise your head with two or three pillows. This can reduce swelling. Try to sleep on your back for the month after surgery.
Luckily, one week post-operatively, it is safe to resume sleeping on your back or side, provided that you are careful to avoid putting pressure on your nose.
Raise your head with three or four pillows. This can reduce swelling. Try to sleep on your back during the month after surgery. You can also sleep in a reclining chair.
You'll need to sleep in an elevated position for at least one week, however, it's generally recommended that you wait around 10-14 days before returning to your regular sleeping positions.
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.
1–2 days Your nose will feel sore, and much more stuffy than it did before the operation. Once the dressings are removed from your nose, you may still need to breathe through your mouth for a week or so.
The use of saline irrigation eight to ten (8-10) times per day in each nostril can be quite helpful to moisturize the nose and clear debris. Also, if you can take decongestants, these will help. They can be either in a spray (Afrin) or pill form (Sudafed).
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.
Sleeping on your side or stomach is not recommended for several weeks after the procedure because it places unnecessary pressure on your nose. Resting on your back in an elevated position cuts down on congestion and minimizes swelling after rhinoplasty surgery.
Avoid bending, lifting, or straining for one week after surgery. Avoid bending, straining, or any activity that increases pressure on your face or nose for the first week after surgery.
Try to keep your head elevated on a couple pillows or sleep in a recliner for the first few days. You will experience drainage of old and fresh blood from your nose. This will be less bothersome if your head is elevated.
Answer: A Septoplasty Will Not Weaken Your Nose and Will Help You Breathe Easy. A well done septoplasty will not change the strength of the nose. Often, the only way to get a nice straight septum is to remove some bone and cartilage.
Postoperative care:
Do not blow your nose or attempt to clean it for the first week. After five days you may blow your nose and sniff in very gently. If you have to sneeze, do so with your mouth open. You may lubricate the inside of the nostrils by very gently applying Bacitracin ointment with a Q-tip.
Nose blowing - You may sniff (even vigorously) if you feel you need to clear your nose. Realize that the interior of the nose will be swollen for four to seven days and may not clear—even with the most forceful attempts. Blowing your nose too early in the healing process can cause bleeding.
Sometimes, the doctor may use packing in your nose, so it may be necessary for you to breathe thru your mouth for a few days. Your mouth will be very dry after surgery because of some of the medications you received.
Open your mouth. With gentle pressure, push the solution into your nostril. Let the solution run into the sink/tub from your nose and mouth. Irrigate each nostril with a full bottle of solution 3 to 4 times daily for the first week after the surgery.
Although snoring is common in the weeks after surgery, it usually goes away. If you continue to snore after this, you should talk to your doctor. It is best to check that you are healing properly and that there aren't any problems such as blockages in your airways.
Recovery time for septoplasty and turbinate reduction varies for each individual. It also depends on how invasive your procedure was. Most of the time complete healing in your nose is complete within 3-4 weeks.
We suggest using a small pillow to pop under your lower back for support and using extra pillows to stop you rolling on to your side in the night. If you have any questions about sleeping upright, talk to your MYA Nurse at your clinical hub appointment.
The answer largely depends on what your doctor recommends, but usually patients will be able to wash their face within a few days of the procedure. Unless you have splints that need to stay dry before its removal, you should be able to maintain personal hygiene soon after coming home from the procedure.
In most patients, it takes about 3 to 6 weeks for sense of smell to fully return. In very rare cases, some individuals have experienced a permanent loss of smell after a nose surgery.
Long recovery
Currently, there are no drugs to bring people out of anesthesia. When surgeons finish an operation, the anesthesiologist turns off the drugs that put the patient under and waits for them to wake up and regain the ability to breathe on their own.