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Post-operative Information
Following Surgery to the Nose
This leaflet is aimed to help you
understand the recovery process. It
explains some of the common
complications you may need to be aware
of and frequently asked questions. It is not
meant to replace discussion between you
and your surgical team, but may help to
answer some of your queries.
General points to consider following
surgery:
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Do not blow your nose for about 2
weeks, or it may start bleeding.
If you are going to sneeze, sneeze
with your mouth open to protect
your nose.
You may get some blood-coloured
watery fluid from your nose for
about two weeks – this is normal.
Your nose will be blocked both
sides like a heavy cold for 10-14
days after the operation. You may
have some drops or spray to help
this.
It may take up to three months for
your nose to settle down and for
your breathing to be clear again.
Try to stay away from dusty or
smoky places.
There may be some stitches inside
your nose – these will dissolve and
fall out by themselves.
You may have some bruising and
swelling around your nose and eye
for one to two weeks.
Sleeping upright with extra pillows
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for a few days helps.
You will need to do Saline Douching
for a period of time after the
operation (ranging from a couple of
days to 1-3 months). The surgeon
will discuss this with you and you
will be given information on how to
do this.
Following Rhinoplasty or
Septorhinoplasty, the skin of the
nose is very sensitive to the sun. It
is important to wear strong
sunscreen and a hat for at least six
months.
Following Rhinoplasty or
Septorhinoplasty, the nose may
feel a little stiff and numb for up to
three months, particularly around
the tip. Fine swelling may take up
to a year to settle at which time the
final results of surgery may be
judged.
Packs and splints
You may have a dressing in each side of
your nose to keep things in place and
prevent bleeding. The dressings are
called ‘packs’, and they will block your
nose up so that you have to breathe
through your mouth. These packs are
either dissolvable or they will be removed
prior to you being discharged. You may
get a little bleeding when the packs come
out – this will settle.
It is common to have a blocked nose even
after removing the packs and this does not
mean that the operation has not worked.
Sometimes there are small pieces of
plastic in your nose to prevent scar tissue
from forming. These are called ‘splints’
and will be removed after a week.
Rhinoplasty - You will have a temporary
splint on the outside of the nose for a
week. This should be kept dry.
BATHING
You can have a bath or a shower in the
normal way. If you have had a
Rhinoplasty – the splint should be kept
dry.
MOBILITY
After a while you will be able to get out of
bed and mobilise as you did before the
operation.
EATING AND DRINKING
You will be able to eat and drink normally.
You may seem a little tired, so it is
advisable to have plenty of rest during the
next few days.
PAIN RELEIF
Some discomfort is normal. The front of
your nose can be a bit tender for a few
weeks. You will be given some tablets to
relieve pain. It is advisable to take these
tablets regularly for the first few days as a
small amount of discomfort is easier to
manage. You should be advised how to
take the analgesia (follow the advice
sheet). If you require more tablets for
pain your GP will prescribe them for you.
DRIVING
You should avoid driving for about one
week after the operation. It is essential
that you are able to perform an emergency
stop.
EXERCISE
You should avoid any contact sports
where there is a risk of your nose being
knocked for six weeks.
WORK
You can expect to go home on the day of
your surgery or the day after you operation
depending on the size of your operation.
You will need to rest at home for at least a
week. Your surgeon will give you a sick
note for 2 weeks. Should you require
longer your General Practitioner will advise
you about returning to work in light of your
progress after the operation.
FOLLOW UP
The time of follow up depends on the
nature of the operation. The surgeon will
inform you of the follow up appointment
required after the operation.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
All operations carry some element of risk
in the form of possible side effects.
Infection in your nose is rare after surgery,
but if it happens you should contact your
GP if your nose is getting more and more
blocked and sore.
Very rarely, you can have some numbness
of your teeth, which usually settles with
time.
Bleeding is a risk of any operation. It is
very common for small amounts of blood
to come from the nose in the days
following the operation.
Rarely the operation may leave a hole in
your septum inside the nose going from
one side of your nose to the other. This
can cause a whistling noise when you
breathe, crusting with blockage or
nosebleeds. Most of the time, it causes no
problems and needs no treatment. If
necessary, further surgery can be carried
out to repair a hole in the septum.
Sometimes your nose can bleed after the
operation, and we may have to put packs
into your nose to stop it. This can happen
within the first 6-8 hours of surgery or up to
5-10 days after surgery. Very occasionally
patients need to have another operation to
stop the bleeding.
Very rarely you may find that the shape of
your nose has changed slightly, with a dip
in the bridge of your nose. Most people do
not notice any change.
Following Functional Endoscopic Sinus
Surgery (FESS)
Eye problems
The sinuses are very close to the wall of
the eye socket (orbit) and are separated
from them by a very thin sheet of bone.
This bone is easily broken, and so bruising
around the eye can occur. More
importantly, structures within the orbit
could then be damaged, including the
muscles that move the eye. This would
cause double vision, which could be
permanent. If your operation involves the
sinuses at the back (posterior ethmoids
and sphenoid) then the optic nerve, which
carries information from the eye to the
brain, is at risk. If damaged, then
blindness can result.
Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak
The brain sits above the ethmoid sinuses,
which are between the eyes. The bone
here is thin, so if broken, there could be a
leak of the clear fluid that surrounds the
brain (cerebral spinal fluid). This is a
problem because if bacteria get through
this break, then meningitis can occur later
on. If a cerebral spinal fluid leak happens
Post-operative Information Following Surgery to the Nose
Version 1
© Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Reviewed Date: March 2015
Next Planned Reviewed Date: March 2017
Surgical Specialities Division
during the surgery, the surgeon can often
fix the hole in the bone, and stop the leak.
You would then need to remain in hospital
with packs in the nose for a few days while
it heals.
Serious complications like these are rare.
CONTACT NUMBERS
Holywell – 01246 512384 – open until 9pm
on the day of surgery.
Barnes Ward – 01246 512451 – for the
first 24 hours following surgery.
AFTER THIS TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY
CONCERNS OR EXPERIENCE ANY
PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR
GENERAL PRACTITIONER OR FOR
ANYTHING URGENT ATTEND THE
NEAREST ACCIDENT AND
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.