Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) Instructions

Reading the below tips and instructions for Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) which are written by Dr. Hadi Amali, will help you to have a better preparation before nose surgery and better recovery after nose surgery. 

1) Because of taking hypnotic drugs, patients shouldn’t eat or drink at least an hour after entering the sector. After about an hour, and in the absence of nausea, the patient (after getting permission from the nurse) can drink sweet liquids like fruit juice or water slowly.

2) Nausea after surgery may occur because of anesthetic drugs. If you have nausea, please stop drinking and inform the nurse. Rarely, due to hypersensitivity to anesthetics, severe nausea and vomiting (which usually contains blood) will occur. Fortunately, this situation will be temporary. It is better to stop eating and drinking till the nausea is over.

3) Patients are advised to eat soft foods like soup and stews for first two days after the surgery.

4) For patients with thick skin, or patients who have acne on their skin, it is recommended that they take natural juices.

5) If possible, adjust the bed level and put the upper body of the patient in a state of 30 degrees to have less congestion and swelling in his head and face.

6) Having blood and plasma in the patient’s nose bandage for several hours (sometimes up to 2 days) is normal and is not a sign of bleeding. Of course, this case is more severe in men.

7) Intermittent use of ice and cold compress on the eyes and nose for 48 hours is recommended (when sleeping, do not use ice compress). It is mentioned that ice compress will not cause or aggravate sinusitis.

8) Prediction of discharge time is approximate and depends on the patient’s general condition, but in most cases, if the patient does not have vertigo and nausea (for about 3 hours after surgery) he can go home with nurse’s permission.

9) Since many patients are weak and lethargic after nose surgery (for 24 hours), the use of toilet should be made with caution and with hands holding the walls.

10) At home, it is recommended that the patient rests (during the day) in a semi-upright position. For example, like the position when a person usually sits in front of the TV, then the patient will have less swelling.

11) When sleeping, using an extra pillow under the head helps to reduce swelling of the face.

12) Preferably for 4 nights, it is better that the patient sleeps in a supine position and after that the patient can sleep in any form.

13) If there is no vomiting, the patient can eat low-fat soup 8 hours after nose surgery.

14) Patients are advised to eat soft foods like soup and stews for first two days after the surgery.

15) Please start taking prescribed medications from the moment of arriving to hotel. Generally, medicines contain 20 capsules cephalexin (every 6 hours – 1 capsule) and 10 tablets of acetaminophen with codeine (every 4 hours – 1 capsule) and a half liter of serum washing salt and eye vitamin A ointment and phenylephrine drops.

Some of the patients feel pressure in their nose but fortunately most of the patients won’t have a lot of pain after nose surgery.

16) In case of pain, just use acetaminophen or acetaminophen with codeine. Taking any other medication (due to the risk of bleeding) is not allowed.

17) In most patients, nasal tampon comes out by a nurse, before the patient’s discharging from the hospital.

18) After removing the nasal tampons wash your nose regularly with saline solution. At least 4 to 6 times a day (using a 5 cc syringe) pour saline into your nose and lead nasal discharge upward and spit them (slowly) out of your mouth or let them come of your nose.

19) Note that you should not clean your nose for 2 weeks by snorting.

20) After removal of nasal tampons, usually because of swelling inside the nose, your breathing will be accompanied by some sounds and it will be difficult, but these problems will be solved gradually.

21) If you have nasal congestion, you can use phenylephrine for maximum 5 to 7 days to improve breathing. (3 drops in each nostril, in the morning and at night).

22) It is recommended to keep inside of your nostrils greasy, so please use Vitamin A Ointment 2 times a day.

23) It is possible that because of swelling inside your nose, one side or both sides are blocked, in that case, do not worry.

24) Having blood or plasma, the patient’s nose bandage will be bloody. Therefore, for the convenience of the patient, try to replace it, if necessary.

25) For bandage, use half of gauze (sterile or non-sterile) and a roll of anti-sensitivity tape (3M Micropore Tape) with a width of one centimeter that you have bought from pharmacies.

26) Sneezing and a runny nose are common, and often not a sign of a cold. Please keep your mouth open when you sneeze to avoid applying pressure to your nose. If the number of sneezing is annoying, taking the pills of Antihistamines Decongestants (one tablet every 12 hours or every 24 hours), can partly control it.

27) Swelling and bruising around the face and eyes depends on the type of operation, operation’s duration, patient’s skin, the thickness of the nasal bones, type of anesthesia and the patient’s age. Bruises usually begin a few hours after the surgery.

Bruising and swelling in the second and third days reach its climax and then gradually will be removed.

28) Rarely bruising and swelling of the face and eyes may be non-symmetrical. In one side it might have greater intensity. This issue will be resolved spontaneously.

29) Sometimes asymmetrical swelling leads to tilt of the cast (plaster) of the nose, which is not worrying. With the removal of the cast (plaster), this feeling will be relieved.

30) Wearing glasses is not permitted for 8 days after the surgery. After 8 days you can wear glasses but with nurse’s permission.

31) Using contact lenses from the fourth day onward is allowed.

32) Patients with stitched nose can dislodge blood clots on the fifth day. To remove blood clots use a cotton soaked in alcohol and rub it on the stitches. Usually from the fourth day onward, some of stitches will be removed spontaneously.

33) Cast (plaster) on your nose must not get wet.

34) Usually after five to seven days after nose surgery, cast (plaster) on your nose will be removed by me or my assistant. One hour before going to the clinic for removing the cast, take a shower completely. (including the body, head, face, nose and nose cast).

35) If your nose is stitched, the stitches will be removed in the same day when removing your nose cast.

36) Sometimes for patients with thick skin (oily skin), cast (plaster) on their nose will become loose sooner than the expectd time. In this case, inform me or my assistant at the earliest.

37) If you are given additional cartilage for septum, please keep them in a cool and dark place.

38) Laughing or talking too much is not harmful to the nose and is allowed.

39) The use of restorative ointment (Cicalfate, etc.) on the stitches will be effective in wound healing

40) All stitches inside of the nose are absorbable and slowly will be removed, don’t worry.

41) It is recommended to the patients with thick skin that do not eat honey, dates, walnuts, wine, choclate and sweets.

42) The incidence of discoloration around the nose and face, somehow is normal but if it is severe, inform us.

43) To the patients with thick skin, it is recommended to avoid doing solarium.