Deviated Septum Surgery

Deviated Septum Surgery Recovery Timeline: What to Expect After Surgery

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Are you contemplating septoplasty for yourself or for anyone you may have to care for afterward?

Are you worried about the aftercare needed for the patient and or what to expect after surgery?

Below we provide details on a deviated septum surgery recovery timeline to cover any of your questions, clearly and in layman's terms.

The procedure called septoplasty is one of the more common day surgeries performed by an ENT specialist. Normally the patient goes home the same day, where all recovery will take place if all care is taken and the doctor's orders are followed to the letter, as in any post-surgery care.

When you leave the hospital you will usually have :

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SWELLING:

The nose, upper lip, cheeks, and or around the eyes

BRUISING:

Around the nose and eyes

NUMBNESS:

Upper lip and or gums (feeling will return n a few weeks to a month)

BLEEDING AND SORENESS:

From the nose (this usually lasts a few days after surgery. You will have a drip pad on which will collect any blood and or mucus, that needs changing only if bleeding seeps through and that would be about every hour for 24 hours post-surgery)

You may also lose a bit of your sense of smell, but this will return to normal probably within a month or two.

You will be able to return to work or school within a few days, but all depends on your job and or school activities, as well as returning to normal activities within three weeks or so. The majority of patients reach full recovery in 1 to 2 months with a re-visit to the doctor’s office in about 3 or four months post-surgery ,only for him or her to check your healing.

Daily Activity

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  • As per any post-surgery home-care, always include as much rest and sleep as possible. The more you sleep and rest, the more you can recover with speed. So always tried to rest or sleep as much as possible either in a reclining chair or when in bed on your back with your head raised by a pillow or two to reduce the swelling
  • Walk, walk and walk......Walking as much as possible, starting slowly at first and increase daily bit by bit, has been proven to help with your healing as it gets your blood flowing as well as helps with possible constipation problems. If not walking try to stand and sit if not sleeping or resting.
  • In your first week of recovery try not to lift any weight more than 4.5 kilo's and that includes kids, groceries, containers, etc.
  • Although you are allowed to shower or bath immediately avoid any swimming within 6 weeks post-surgery.
  • Allow for a week to pass and or for your doctor to okay any strenuous activities.
  • Avoid any driving until you are off, any scheduled prescribed meds.

Diet

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  • You should always stick to a low-fat and bland type of diet to avoid any stomach upsets but a normal good healthy diet is also okay.
  •  Your normal bowel movements are normally affected, but this is common and can be remedied easily with a fiber supplement, but if no results within a few days consult with your surgeon or use a mild laxative available over the counter at any pharmacy

Incision Care

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  • As mentioned before you will have a drip pad which will be left on after surgery for any excess bleeding and or mucus and should be changed as per mentioned
  • If the doctor also inserts nose packaging, which is highly probable, leave that in for the doctor to remove only.

Ice and Elevation

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  • By putting a thin cloth on the skin that is swollen, apply an icepack or iceblocks to that area for ten to twenty-minute sessions at a time to help with the relief of swelling, as well as sleep in a head raised position or in a recliner chair.

Medicine

  • Once you are ready to leave the hospital you will be issued with a prescription as well as meds to take home.
  • ALWAYS follow any prescription instructions as per issued by your doctor.
  • Any chronic everyday medication, for example, blood thinning meds, blood pressure meds, etc, should always be mentioned to your surgeon before the procedure and will advise on when to stop taking it and when to restart taking it again.
  • Any anti inflammatory's like Ibuprofen or any Aspirins should always be discussed with your surgeon as well and only be taken when and if your he or she instructs you to, and exactly like advised.
  • Any pain meds prescribed must be taken exactly as prescribed especially if more than one type of the same
  • Antibiotics should ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED as per surgeons instructions, and exactly like prescribed and should never be stopped of short-taken/double dosed unless ordered to do so by your doctor
  • Even if any meds upsets your stomach, do not just stop taking it unless you have discussed it with your doctor.

Other Instructions That May Be Relevant

  • it is not advised to blow you nose for at least 1-week post-surgery
  • do not remove or put anything from your nose
  • if you feel the need to sneeze, do not try and prevent it or squeeze it shut, just open your mouth and sneeze naturally
  • if you are visually impaired you can wear your spectacles but only use your prescription one-day post-op
  • if and when any nasal packing has been removed you can use saline water to keep it clean and mucus free, by rinsing it daily to avoid any bacteria build-up as well.
  • this saline can be obtained at any drugstore or you can make it at home using a combination of 2 cups distilled water and a teaspoon each of salt and baking soda, and you can use a bulb syringe to insert and rinse the nasal passage with this solution or saline.

So now that you know everything you need to know relating to a deviated septum surgery recovery timeline, you can now have that septoplasty procedure done with peace of mind!

A deviated septum surgery recovery timeline summary can be found at the following link if you’d like more details: Nasal Septum Repair: What to Expect At Home

Deviated Septum Surgery Success Rate: A Look at the Evidence

Deviated Septum Causes: A Complete List

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