ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
Recovery from sinus surgery depends on a person's health and which procedure they have, but most people need to be away from work or school for several days. And they may need several weeks to heal completely. The doctor will best explain the care plan after surgery.
THE RECOVERY PROCESS
An ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy and powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty are different procedures, but what happens following surgery is similar.
It can take several weeks to fully recover. There will be some swelling and tenderness inside the nose after the surgery, but this is normal. The patient may have symptoms like a severe cold or a sinus infection. This is due to swelling, dry blood, mucus, and crusting in the nose. To help the nose and sinuses return to normal, the doctor may recommend nasal irrigation or saline sprays and antibiotic lubricants.
After surgery, it’s important to take good care of the nose and sinuses to let them heal properly and prevent scars. The doctor will give some suggestions for taking care of the nose and sinuses after surgery.
Depending on the type of surgery, performed the patient will be asked to return for a follow-up visit about 3 to 7 days after the operation. During that visit, the doctor will remove any packing (if necessary), make sure that the surgery site is healing according to plan, and give further instructions on caring for the nose and sinuses.
DAILY LIFE AFTER SINUS SURGERY
Once the nose and sinuses finish healing, the patient should be able to resume their normal activity level. They may still need some kind of medical therapy to manage their symptoms after surgery. The doctor can provide more information on this.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have questions about functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)? The question may be answered in the FAQ.