Resources

ACTIVITY:

• You are encouraged to walk around the house on the day of surgery. This helps to prevent blood clots from develop in the legs. During the first 3 weeks after surgery you should not do anything more strenuous than an easy walk around your neighborhood.
• When you rest or sleep, keep your head elevated 2-3 pillows/recliner chair/ or wedge pillow and avoid turning of your side.
• Take deep breaths often when you get home for the first 24 hours after surgery. This helps to expand
• the base of your lungs.
• Avoid bending, lifting, pulling, pushing, straining and aerobic activities for 3 weeks.
• You may begin to return to regular exercise 3 weeks after surgery. Ease into this, gradually increasing your exercise level back to normal by 5-6 weeks from surgery.
• It takes 6 weeks for the nasal bones to fully heal. Slowly resume your activity.
• Contact and semi-contact activities are to be avoided for 6 weeks. Wearing goggles for skiing or swimming is allowed after 6 weeks.

ORAL INTAKE:

• Alcohol consumption should also be limited as this may raise the blood pressure and initiate bleeding.
• Drink plenty of fluids following surgery, as dehydration can contribute to nausea.
• Small amounts of food 20 minutes before taking postoperative medications (especially pain medications and/or antibiotics) can prevent nausea.
• You have been prescribed anti nausea medications, these can help prevent nausea and can be taken 30-60 minutes prior to pain medication to further prevent nausea
• If you are taking prescribed pain medications, these may cause constipation, and you should consider taking a stool softener

MEDICATIONS:

• You will be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection – please take the full course as prescribed
• You will be prescribed pain medications to control pain after surgery, if the pain is mild, you can take Tylenol or ibuprofen instead
• Nausea medication has been prescribed as well incase you feel nauseous from anesthesia or pain medication. Take this as needed and to prevent nausea before taking pain medication
• Over the counter arnica supplement either oral or topical can help reduce bruising
• Topical antibiotic ointment should be applied to stitches 2-3 times per day
• Over the counter saline nasal spray should be used frequently throughout the day to moisturize the nose
• Over the counter Afrin nasal spray can be used if you experience increased bleeding

BATHING:

• You may bathe but not shower while the cast is in place. The cast must remain dry.
• You may carefully wash your face with a washcloth or cotton balls, but make sure the cast remains dry.

PAIN, SWELLING, BRUISING, INFECTION:

• Most patients complain more of discomfort from nasal and sinus congestion than from pain. Any pain should be controlled via the prescribed medication. After the first day the pain may subside enough so that Tylenol may be sufficient.
• Swelling and bruising about the eyes and cheeks is variable. Swelling and bruising maximizes at about two days then subsides over the next 5-7 days. You will be instructed on the use of Arnica, an herb with no known side effects, to minimize bruising.
• Icing off and on with small zip lock bags of frozen peas or small ice packs is helpful in the first 48 hours
• Do not worry if you have excess swelling around the eyes and cheeks. This will clear and not affect the final result. Bruising may persist a few days longer.
• Infection is also unusual. Fever, localized swelling with redness and tenderness may signify a developing infection and should be reported. Appropriate treatment will be initiated.
• Your final results will occur between 6-12 months.

OTHER COMMON INSTRUCTIONS AFTER SURGERY

• Do not blow your nose for 2 weeks or sniff excessively as this will only irritate the healing tissues
• If you need to sneeze, keep your mouth
• Use saline spray in both nostrils as often as feels comfortable
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN YOUR NOSE with tissues or qtips. (If you do you can cause serious infection)
• Expect your nasal passages to be obstructed by swelling for at least two weeks. A humidifier may help you sleep by allowing you to breathe through your mouth more comfortably.
• It is normal to have some nasal bleeding over the first day or two It may be necessary to change the gauze drip-pad frequently the first night
• If you have any profuse nasal bleeding you can spay Afrin nasal spray in your nostrils and replace the drip pad. Sit down or lay with your head elevated.
• Avoid making major decisions or participating in activities requiring judgment for 24 hours after
•  
• Smoking should be strictly avoided as it interferes with the blood supply to the healing tissues and
• slows subsequent healing.
• Take all medications as instructed postoperatively.
• Avoid excess sunlight to the nose for at least a year. Do not let your nose become sunburned. Even mild sunburn may cause prolonged swelling or redness. Use sunscreen with zinc oxide and SPF 30 or greater if you will be in the sun.
• Do not compare your progress with that of others. Remember that everyone’s healing process is unique. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, call on us.

NASAL CARE:

• Keep your cast dry. It will be removed 1 week after surgery
• Use nasal saline mist every 1-2 hours while awake for approximately 2-3 weeks. You may purchase this over the counter. This prevents dryness and crusting on the inside of the nose.
• There are splints inside your nose, they are holding the septum in place to help it heal straight, but may cause your nose to feel blocked
• Twice a day: You will clean your incision under the nose with a Q-tip dipped into peroxide then gently applied over the stitches. You will then apply a small amount of Polysporin ointment to the stitches.
• DO NOT PUT Q-TIP INSIDE YOUR NOSE.
• DO NOT BLOW YORU NOSE FOR 2 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY
• Sutures are removed on postoperative day 3-4.
• When the cast is removed, the nose will be quite swollen and the nasal tip will be turned up slightly. This will settle down over the next 3-4 days, then more gradually thereafter

POST OP APPOINTMENTS:

• Post op day 3-4 nose check and removal of stitche
• Post op day 7-8 removal of splints, and cast

CALL THE OFFICE IF YOU DEVELOP ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Fever of 101 degrees F or greater.
• Pain not relieved with pain medication.
• Swelling, redness, bleeding, and/or foul drainage from incision area.
• Persistent nausea and/or vomiting.

Any other concerns.

ACTIVITY:

• You are encouraged to walk around the house on the day of surgery. This helps to prevent blood clots from develop in the legs. During the first 3 weeks after surgery you should not do anything more strenuous than an easy walk around your neighborhood.
• When you rest or sleep, keep your head elevated 2-3 pillows/recliner chair/ or wedge pillow and avoid turning of your side.
• Take deep breaths often when you get home for the first 24 hours after surgery. This helps to expand
• the base of your lungs.
• Avoid bending, lifting, pulling, pushing, straining and aerobic activities for 3 weeks.
• You may begin to return to regular exercise 3 weeks after surgery. Ease into this, gradually increasing your exercise level back to normal by 5-6 weeks from surgery.

ORAL INTAKE:

• Alcohol consumption should also be limited as this may raise the blood pressure and initiate bleeding.
• Drink plenty of fluids following surgery, as dehydration can contribute to nausea.
• Small amounts of food 20 minutes before taking postoperative medications (especially pain medications and/or antibiotics) can prevent nausea.
• You have been prescribed anti nausea medications, these can help prevent nausea and can be taken 30-60 minutes prior to pain medication to further prevent nausea
• If you are taking prescribed pain medications, these may cause constipation, and you should consider taking a stool softener

MEDICATIONS:

• You will be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection – please take the full course as prescribed
• You will be prescribed pain medications to control pain after surgery, if the pain is mild, you can take Tylenol or ibuprofen instead
• Nausea medication has been prescribed as well incase you feel nauseous from anesthesia or pain medication. Take this as needed and to prevent nausea before taking pain medication
• Over the counter arnica supplement either oral or topical can help reduce bruising
• Topical antibiotic ointment should be applied to stitches 2-3 times per day

BATHING:

• You may bathe but not shower for the first 3 days after surgery. DO NOT wash your hair, or face.
• After 72 hours, you may take a shower and gently wash your hair with baby shampoo. You may use a gentle facial cleanser.  After showering, apply antibiotic ointment to stitches and staples see below

PAIN, SWELLING, BRUISING, INFECTION:

• It is normal to have swelling and bruising in the face and neck after surgery. This may take up to 3 weeks to fully resolve.
• It is also normal have numbness in the skin around the incisions, and face and neck. This numbness may last several weeks or months.
• Swelling and bruising may be worse than pain as the skin may feel numb.
• Icing off and on with small zip lock bags of frozen peas or small ice packs is helpful in the first 48 hours
• Infection is unusual. Fever, localized swelling with redness and tenderness may signify a developing infection and should be reported. Appropriate treatment will be initiated.
• If you notice localized pain with swelling, redness or drainage, this may be a sign of an infection, you should call the office right away
• Your final results will occur between 3-6 months.

OTHER COMMON INSTRUCTIONS AFTER SURGERY

• Avoid making major decisions or participating in activities requiring judgment for 24 hours after
•  
• Smoking should be strictly avoided as it interferes with the blood supply to the healing tissues and
• slows subsequent healing.
• Take all medications as instructed postoperatively.
• Avoid excess sunlight exposure for at least a year.  Use sunscreen with zinc oxide and SPF 30 or greater if you will be in the sun.
• Do not compare your progress with that of others. Remember that everyone’s healing process is unique. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, call on us.

INCISION CARE:

• During the first 24 hours after surgery there will be a compression dressing around you face and neck. You must keep this in place as it is there to prevent bleeding and fluid collections. 
• If you have a drain, you will be instructed on how to take care of it
• You will be seen in the office the day after surgery to remove the dressing and check the incisions
• Twice a day: You will clean your incisions  with a Q-tip dipped into peroxide then gently applied over the stitches. You will then apply a small amount of Polysporin ointment to the stitches.
• You should wear the elastic wrap around you chin/ears/head for the first week after surgery whenever you are sleeping and as long as possible during the day. You may take it off for an hour or two when you clean the incisions and after day 3 it is ok to take it off for showers.

POST OP APPOINTMENTS:

• Post op day 1- removal of compression dressing, removal of drains if they were placed, wound check
• Post op day 7-8 removal of stitches/staples
• Post op day 10-14 removal of remaining stitches/staples

CALL THE OFFICE IF YOU DEVELOP ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Fever of 101 degrees F or greater.
• Pain not relieved with pain medication.
• Swelling, redness, bleeding, and/or foul drainage from incision area.
• Persistent nausea and/or vomiting.
• Any other concerns.