Nasal septum surgery: postoperative period, nose care after correction, rehabilitation. Photo

According to doctors, about 15% of people on the planet have a curved nasal septum. At the moment, medicine is able to correct this deficiency very effectively.

The operation on the nasal septum takes relatively little time, but the postoperative period lasts much longer and represents a much more significant stage. During this period, complications may arise that require additional treatment.

Photos before and after surgery

How long is the rehabilitation period

The duration of this period is about 4 weeks, and it is divided into two stages:

• postoperative – you will need to walk with tampons and breathe through the nose, but in time this period lasts very little from one to 3 days, depending on the individual history;
• recovery – as a rule, lasts up to 3 weeks, although a full recovery may require more time – 8-12 weeks.

Before the recovery period begins, the doctor removes the swabs and prescribes the appropriate treatment. You will need to use drops from crusts, drugs that prevent the development of infection.

The duration of rehabilitation depends in part on the general habits of lifestyle and body conditions. Compliance with the prescriptions of the doctor matters. The logic is elementary: the better the body as a whole feels, the faster the recovery.

What recommendations to follow in the postoperative period

Specialists give patients a list of prescriptions, but it is better to list what should not be done:

• consume alcohol, cigarettes and other harmful substances;
• tilt your head during the day;
• visit the beach and pool;
• go to the bathhouse or sauna;
• wear glasses;
• do physical exercises, carry heavy.

In addition, you need to try to sleep only on your back and in every possible way avoid infections and colds . Particular difficulties are associated with washing your hair. During the first week, you will need to completely abandon this procedure. After a week, washing your hair becomes possible, but you can not tilt your head and moisten the paranasal.

Features of the recovery period

Even if the operation on the nasal septum is performed carefully and professionally, the postoperative period is accompanied by unpleasant sensations. During the recovery period, they are considered absolutely normal.

Before the body recovers completely (usually takes up to 12 weeks), various symptoms may appear:

• sore throat and toothache;
• pain in the nose;
• allergic reaction;
• tearing;
• strange sensations in the skin.

Most of all these sensations are caused by the deformation of nerve tissues, which are located in the area of the nasal sinuses. These tissues may be associated with those that also innervate the area near the gums and teeth. Accordingly, sensations spread throughout the face.

When to remove the bandage

Depending on the complexity of the operation, the wearing time of the plaster or thermoplastic dressing is determined. Typically, the time range is from 7 to 14 days.

During the first two weeks, visits to the doctor should be regular – every 2-3 days.

Accordingly, it is he who precisely determines the period of removal of the dressing, but much depends on how fast the tissue is restored.

Why doesn’t the nose breathe

An operation on the nasal septum (the postoperative period is almost always accompanied by certain difficulties associated with breathing) directly affects the airways, so you can only breathe through the mouth first – before the tampons are removed.

After this, a bandage remains, which can also slightly compress the airways. Then, edema persists for about 3 weeks, and crusts can form, which impede the flow of air. Regardless of the cause of difficulty breathing, there is no special way out and you will have to endure this time.

Edema in most cases will subside almost completely after 3 weeks , then there may be minimal unpleasant sensations, which eventually disappear. It is necessary to track the complications and not to allow those, but basically only the presence of a certain amount of time is necessary to complete the recovery phase.

How long does the swelling last

The duration of preservation of edema depends on the individual characteristics of the body, but the fact of its appearance is required, since it is a normal reaction of the body to tissue damage. The standard period is about 20 days, but may last more .

The brightest edema is observed for 7 days at the very beginning, after which it gradually subsides.

It is possible to predict how long the edema will last in a particular case if you estimate how long the wounds on the body or bruises heal. The longer this period lasts, the longer the swelling of the tissues will persist.

There are situations where edema persists for up to 12 weeks or more. And this condition is a variant of the norm. In addition, some organisms may produce an unusual response to surgery, in which case rehabilitation measures should be selected individually. For example, in some people, after a recovery period, edema reappears in wet weather.

How to relieve swelling

The doctor will make exact recommendations, but most often he will offer something from the following areas:

• rest and bed rest;
• dressings with ice;
• the use of antihistamines;
• drugs that strengthen blood vessels;
• drops for narrowing of blood vessels;
• nasal sprays;
• humidification of the room.

This is an integrated approach, i.e. You need to use several methods at once. In this case, drugs must be taken strictly in accordance with the instructions and recommendations of the doctor. For example, you should not use antihistamines for more than 7 days in a row.

In addition, physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out, includi
ng massage , which can be performed independently. Massage movements should be smooth and light, and the direction of the massage lines is observed. Thanks to this effect, trophic tissue improves.

After removing the sutures, wound healing ointments are prescribed. They also help relieve swelling and help repair tissue without additional complications.

Runny nose

It is one of the most common symptoms that occur during or a little after the recovery period. The reason is the destruction of the mucous membrane, which takes time to recover.

As a rule, an operation on the nasal septum during a normal postoperative period does not give complications in the form of a chronic runny nose or sinusitis. You just need to wait for the full recovery. Then the mucous membrane will return to normal and will work as before – the runny nose will disappear.

Festering seam

It is necessary to regularly check whether the seam is rotten , since when this complication occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor. A festering sut alone does not cause significant inconvenience, but if the infection begins to develop and penetrate deeper, then more serious consequences may occur, in particular blood poisoning.

At the beginning of the recovery period, antibiotics are prescribed to help prevent the appearance of pus . Then you should carefully monitor the condition of the seam. You should not treat a festering seam with painkillers and leave it unattended. When seeking medical help, the doctor cleans the pus and eliminates the root cause of its appearance. Next, you will need to follow his recommendations.

Sinusitis

Surgery on the nasal septum (the postoperative period may be associated with various complications) is often combined with the appearance of discharge from the nose, in particular green snot. They often indicate an immune response of the body and not just normal, but even good recovery.

However, it is this symptom that can also be a symptom of sinusitis. Therefore, having noticed discharge from the nose, you should immediately contact a doctor . The disease is an inflammatory process in any sinus and requires antibiotic treatment, and sometimes surgical intervention.

Violation of the integrity of the nasal septum

This option is most often caused by a deterioration in the nutrition of cartilage.

The so-called perforation begins, the symptoms of which can be:

• feeling of dryness;
• discomfort in the septum;
• purulent discharge.

With such damage, an operation will be required again.

In the process of its implementation, the specialist takes a patch of adjacent tissue and closes the damaged surface. As a result, the integrity of the septum is restored, and the tissues again fully perform their functions.

The formation of synechiae

This term translates as jumpers or commissures. It is about when an additional fusion occurs between the walls of the vessels. The result of this is a decrease in the size of the nasal cavity and, accordingly, breathing difficulties appear.

Synechia is also treated surgically, but the operation can also be performed with a laser. After that, special tires are installed in the cavity, which prevent the vessels from growing together and allow the cavity to recover normally.

Cartilage and bone deformation

According to the results of treatment, various deformations can be observed:

• narrowing of the arch;
• partial curvature;
• narrowing of the cartilage;
• reduction of the wings of the nose.

To eliminate these complications, a second operation will be required. The presence of deformities can be determined by secondary symptoms, such as dry throat and mouth, a change or decrease in the brightness of taste and olfactory sensations.

Bleeding

An operation on the nasal septum (the postoperative period is sometimes accompanied by the appearance of hematomas, but this is a rare occurrence) involves the wearing of special drainage afterwards. Thanks to this rubber insert, which the surgeon installs from the edges of the incision, the accumulation of blood clots and the appearance of bleeding are prevented.

How to restore breathing

At the initial stage, breathing through the nose may not be available at all. Even if the surgeon installs the tubes, it is difficult to breathe through them. To facilitate breathing in the future, an ointment and drops from crusts are useful.

Mucosal repair

To restore the mucous membrane, drops for washing are used, for example, such as Aqualor or the like, help remove the crusts, after which the cavity is cleaned with cotton.

Ointments like Naphthyzin help not only to remove the crust, but also dry nose.

Why is the smell lost and how to restore

Smell may be lost due to complications. If none were found, then we are talking about an individual reaction. Over time, the sense of smell is restored on its own, especially if you follow the recommendations on the recovery period that were given earlier.

Hygiene of the nose after surgery

Every day you will need to thoroughly rinse your nose, eliminate a variety of contaminants and secretions. Hygiene is also necessary in order to be able to track the occurrence of complications.

The care process consists in regularly washing with drops based on sea salt (for example, Aqualor noted earlier) and using softening drops.

Drops based on oil and drops from rhinitis are also useful. For example, a specialist may prescribe Polydex or Flixonase.

If infection

To get rid of the infection, a 5-day course of antibiotics is prescribed , in addition to which an antibiotic ointment applied topically can be used. But it is necessary to identify what kind of infection caused the inflammatory process. A spec
ialist should take a sample of microorganisms and, based on the results obtained, select the optimal ointment.

There is a correlation between the general condition of the body and susceptibility to infections. Therefore, before the operation, one should strengthen one’s own immunity and the body as a whole , for example, through vitamin therapy. In the presence of infection, you should definitely consult a specialist and do not prescribe yourself antibiotics yourself.

Nutritional Recommendations

In addition to the restriction in hot and spicy foods, doctors, with regards to diet, give practically no advice. However, the relationship between the food consumed and the rate of recovery of the body must be clearly understood.

During the recovery period, it is recommended to focus on food that is rich in vitamins and healthy in every way.

It is better to focus on various smoothies and fruit juices, as they are not only useful, but also liquid, and at the initial stage of the recovery period, such food should be preferred. Before the stitches are removed, one should not eat writing, which is difficult to chew. Also, do not consume foods that can trigger sneezing, allergies, and the like.

What to do with a cold

A cold is not a disaster during this period, but it is advisable to quickly recover. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, since many drugs can provoke bleeding and, as a result, worsen the recovery process. If you have a cold, you need to contact the otolaryngologist to provide a list of drugs necessary for treatment.

Can I blow my nose

Gentle rinsing of the nasal cavity is optimal. To do this, use a mixture based on sea salt (purchased drops) and then Miramistin can be used, which disinfects, treats and reduces the amount of secretions.

Blowing out and similar influences are not permissible. Only lavages that do not affect the tissue, especially cartilage that are in the process of recovery, are prescribed.

In the presence of a significant number of snot, making breathing difficult, you need to consult a specialist for advice.

Nasal septum surgery price

The cost may vary depending on the clinic and sometimes we are talking about the amount many times more. Nevertheless, the lower level is about $ 272, and the upper limit is about $ 680 – $ 1360.

The cost depends on the type of operation:

• endoscopy;
• radio wave;
• laser;
• ultrasound;
• classic.

The classic version is more affordable. Other options are considered more expensive. Also, the cost increases if an additional correction is performed, for example, the skeleton of the partition.

It is necessary to carefully observe the doctor’s prescriptions and monitor the well-being after surgery on the nasal septum. In the postoperative period, complications may occur that require immediate additional treatment. The rest of the recovery period runs smoothly and only a certain amount of time is needed to normalize the condition.

Nasal septum surgery video

How to carry out such a procedure – says the doctor:

The first days after surgery: