RECOVERY FROM NASAL SURGERY
After surgery, the patient is taken to a recovery area
where he or she is observed and then discharged to home. Within a few hours, the area
around the eyes will swell and look bruised as a result of fracturing the nasal bones,
which causes bleeding under the skin.
DRESSING
The internal nasal packing or splint, as well as the
dressing and external splint, keep the healing nasal bone and cartilage in place. Do not
move or reposition the dressing. You probably will be breathing through your mouth for a
period of time until you are seen for postoperative care. Pain control is achieved through
prescribed pain medications. Do not take aspirin, as this will cause bleeding. After a
period of seven days, the internal splints and packing are removed from the nose. The cast
is taken off and the nose is retaped for a period of one week. In order to maintain the
narrow appearance of the nose and help reduce swelling, I may instruct you on how to
compress the side of the nose.
FINAL APPEARANCE
The initial swelling and discoloration around the eyes and
nose are covered with makeup shortly after surgery. It may take between 12 to 18 months
for all the swelling, particularly in the lower third of the nose, to disappear. In most
cases, minor areas of local thickness or asymmetry will disappear in this period of time.
FUNCTIONAL NASAL SURGERY
In addition to surgery on the outside of the nose,
septoplasty may be recommended when the septum blocks one or both sides of the nasal
chambers. Turbinate surgery is recommended when the turbinates (humidifiers) are too
large, causing blockage. Often these two surgical procedures are performed together.
RESULTS
Aesthetic surgery usually yields the expected results when
there has been good communication between the doctor and the patient. The doctor evaluates
the general appearance, its symmetry and how it fits with the rest of the facial features.
In a few cases, a less than optimal result occurs; either too much or too little tissue
has been removed or internal scarring distorts the external appearance. If after six
months to a year there is a correctable problem, surgical revision may be considered. The
goal of internal nasal surgery is to improve nasal function by increasing the breathing
space in the internal chamber of the nose and in a majority of cases a definite
improvement in noted. It is most important to remember that nasal surgery cannot sure
allergies. If allergies persist, further management is required. In some cases, surgical
revisions may be recommended for persistent problems.
SUMMARY
Nasal surgery, whether to improve appearance or function,
makes a welcome difference in the patient's life. Aesthetic surgery can give a nose that
is more attractively proportionate to the rest of the face. Internal surgery can help your
nose function well, taking in and conditioning air so that you can breathe, smell, taste
and sleep easily.
* See Sleep
Disorders