Written by Mr Henry Sharp, Consultant ENT Surgeon · Reviewed
For the first 48 hours
You should have someone at home to look after you for at least 24 hours after discharge from hospital.
Don’t drive or operate any potentially dangerous machinery.
Don’t drink alcohol or take any sedative medication if you have had a general anaesthetic.
Use the painkillers you are given to take home as required, although nasal surgery in general should not cause too much discomfort. Avoid aspirin-containing painkillers, as they thin the blood and may cause bleeding.
Eat and drink as much as you feel able to, but avoid hot food and drinks, as they cause the blood vessels in your nose to swell and may cause bleeding — allow everything to cool before consumption. For the same reason, avoid hot showers or baths.
Plenty of clear fluids is important, as you will be dehydrated following your period of pre-operative fasting. Your throat will also be dry from the effects of the general anaesthetic, and because you won’t easily be able to breathe through your nose due to the inevitable swelling of the nasal lining.
For the first week
Take it easy. Particularly avoid strenuous or physical activities, and gradually build up your activity levels over the first 7 to 10 days.
Avoid close contact with too many people, particularly in confined spaces such as cinemas or theatres — crowds carry infections. Especially avoid anyone with a known cough or cold. For similar reasons, avoid dusty or smoky environments.
Do not blow your nose. Instead, douche the nose with an alkaline solution (please see our separate leaflet on nasal douching). You can make up the solution yourself or buy Sinus Rinse by NeilMed from your pharmacist or via neilmed.com.
Use any decongestant nasal sprays or steroid drops prescribed on discharge, but avoid any sprays you may use normally (such as steroid sprays) until directed to restart them by us or your GP.
You may get some blood-stained discharge, and even some light bleeding, for the first few days — this is normal. If prolonged, lean forward over a bowl or sink and pinch the front (flexible) part of the nose on both sides between thumb and forefinger to close the nostrils, and breathe through the mouth. An ice pack (or a packet of frozen peas) over the nose often helps.
If the bleeding is heavy and prolonged, this is not normal — go to your local A&E department, ideally The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where ENT doctors are on site. If the bleeding is intermittent but controllable, or if you have any other issues needing our advice, please contact the ward at your hospital, or us directly on 01622 232880 during working hours.
You should plan to be off work for two weeks following surgery. If your work is office-based or you can work from home, you may feel up to returning before this — but make no promises.
For the first 4 to 6 weeks
Your nose will continue to feel blocked, as though you have a cold, as the tissues inside heal. This should improve day by day, but remember not to expect the nose to clear fully until 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
Any stitches inside your nose (usually dissolvable unless your surgeon directs otherwise) should start to disappear after 2 to 3 weeks. The main exception is if you have plastic splints stitched in the nose to help healing and avoid scar tissue (adhesions); if so, we will tell you when to return to outpatients to have these quickly and painlessly removed, usually 7 to 10 days after your operation.
Do not return to exercise for at least two weeks. If the nose is feeling clearer at that stage, build up slowly from walking to jogging and then to your full programme. Some people take longer than others to heal — if in doubt, rest and let the nose heal properly before any strenuous activity.
Avoid travel. Air travel in particular is discouraged, as the pressurised cabin air dries the nose and may cause bleeding, and the recirculated air carries an increased concentration of bacteria and viruses, with an increased risk of nasal infection. Ideally leave six weeks after nasal surgery before flying. Any travel too far from home is also best avoided until the nose is fully healed, in case there is a problem and you need medical advice. Make sure your travel insurance covers you before you leave. The ultimate decision is yours, however, and depends somewhat on your individual healing time.
