How Does Nasal Surgery Work

Nasal surgery is a type of cosmetic surgery that is becoming increasingly popular. It can help you get rid of nasal hair, remove a bump, or correct a deviated septum. It’s a relatively straightforward procedure and only takes about 30 minutes.

Nasal surgery works by cutting your nose open and removing some of the bones in your nose. The procedure allows you to introduce changes to the shape of your nose and make it look more symmetrical.

You’ll read about side effects of sinus surgery and sinus surgery recovery time in this post.

Reasons for sinus surgery

The goal of the surgery is to remove whatever is blocking the drainage pathways of the sinuses. This may include removing

• thin pieces of bone
• mucous membranes
• nasal polyps
• swollen or damaged tissue
• tumors or growths blocking the nasal or sinus passage

A person may require sinus surgery to treat various issues. Common reasons include sinusitis and nasal polyps.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is the swelling of the nasal sinuses or passages. It is sometimes called a sinus infection. A person with sinusitis may have the following symptoms:

• pressure around the nose, eyes, or forehead
• a stuffy nose
• thick and discolored nasal drainage
• a cough
• head congestion and headaches
• bad-tasting post-nasal drip
• blocked ears or changes in hearing

Nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are swellings of the nasal lining inside the nasal passages and sinuses. They can vary in size but are usually teardrop-shaped.

Larger polyps or clusters may lead to breathing issues and can affect someone’s sense of smell. They can also block a person’s sinuses leading to infections.

Some people may experience no symptoms from nasal polyps. However, common ones include:

• a blocked nose, leading to difficulty breathing
• a runny nose
• recurrent sinus infections
• post-nasal drip
• a reduced sense of smell or taste
• facial pain
• headaches
• snoring
• sleep apnea

Other reasons

Sinus surgery may also be required due to other infections, ongoing blockages, abnormal growths, and other issues that cause inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses.

Sinus Surgery Recovery Time

Following sinus surgery, one may use nasal packing. Nasal packing is the insertion of sterile gauze-like material into the nasal passage to control bleeding.

Use of packing depends on the type of surgery performed. The packaging can be absorbent and will dissolve over time. If the packing is non-absorbable, a doctor will have to remove it.

Recovery periods vary depending on the surgery performed and other factors such as age and general health. However, many people experience very little discomfort after sinus surgery. Most individuals can go home the same day as surgery.

During recovery, a person may receive prescription pain medication, depending on the extent of the surgery. After the operation, it’s common to experience:

• mild discomfort
• fatigue
• nasal congestion
• small amounts of bleeding

People should closely follow their doctor’s instructions for aftercare and take all medications as prescribed. They may have to make changes to their daily routine for the first two weeks after surgery.

Common medications prescribed after your procedure often include saline rinses, steroids, and antibiotics.

How do you prepare for sinus surgery? What happens before surgery?

In most situations, the surgery is performed as an outpatient at either the hospital or a surgical center (surgicenter). Both facilities offer high-quality care without the hassle of an overnight stay. An anesthesiologist will review the patient’s medical history before surgery and will monitor the anesthesia of the patient throughout the procedure. If the doctor has ordered preoperative laboratory studies, the patient should arrange to have these done several days in advance and bring all lab results to the hospital on the day of surgery for review.

Arrange for someone to spend the first night after surgery with the patient, if possible, in case the patient needs to remain overnight.

After surgery, the doctor will usually advise the patient to start using saline irrigation. There are many different ways to irrigate the sinuses; depending on the surgery that was performed, the surgeon will advise the patient on the best method for the task to be done.

In general, patients that have sinus surgery should not take aspirin, or any product containing aspirin, within 10 days prior to the date of surgery. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as Advil) should not be taken within 7 days of the date of surgery. Many over-the-counter products contain aspirin or Advil-like drugs. Therefore, it is important to check all medications carefully. If there is any question, call the doctors who prescribed the medications (surgeon, primary care physician, cardiologist, or other specialists) or consult your pharmacist. Depending on the planned surgery, the surgeon may have the patient refrain from such medications for a longer period.  Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an acceptable pain reliever. Usually, the surgeon will give prescriptions for post-surgery pain medications at the preoperative visit. It is best to have these filled prior to the date of surgery.

In most pre-operative preparations, patients must not eat or drink anything 8 hours prior to the time of surgery; the surgeon or hospital/surgical center will let the patient know the details regarding what time to stop eating and drinking. This includes even water, candy, or chewing gum.  Smokers should make every effort to stop smoking or at least reduce the number of cigarettes as much in advance of surgery as possible. These steps will help to reduce postoperative coughing and bleeding.

If a person is sick or has a fever the day before surgery, they should inform the surgeon. Proceed as scheduled to the surgical facility even if the patient becomes ill on the day of the procedure. The surgeon and the anesthesiologist will decide if it is safe to proceed with surgery.

When should you call your surgeon for complications following endoscopic sinus surgery?

• A sudden increase in the amount of bleeding from the nose is unrelieved by pressure, ice, and head elevation.
• A fever greater than 101.5°F (38.6°C) persists despite increasing the amount of fluid intake and acetaminophen (Tylenol) use.
• Persistent sharp pain or headache that is not relieved by the prescribed pain medication.
• There is an increased swelling or redness of the nose or eyes.
• The nose typically drains a thin, clear fluid in large quantities from only one side. This scenario would be different from the clear, thicker mucus drainage normally produced by the nose.

Conclusion

Sinuses are hollow areas in the skull around the nose, eyes, and front of the face.

These cavities lighten the skull. They also create mucus, which hydrates the nasal passages. Mucus acts as a barrier to help keep out undesirable substances, including dirt, pollutants, and pathogens.

Cilia are tiny cells that resemble hairs and line the sinuses. Mucus is drained into the nose through the sinus passages with the aid of the cilia.