Sinus Surgery (FESS) Aftercare

You will undergo your surgery at Medicana. You will be asleep, under general anaesthetic. The surgery itself will take around 1 to 2 hours, depending upon the complexity. Following the surgery, you will need to be observed for a few hours, only being discharged when you are fully ready.

Consultant Cosmetic Rhinoplasty & Sinus Surgeon Winchester & Fareham Hampshire UK

Post-operative Treatments

Nasal wash

You will be given a salt water nasal wash to flush the nose and rinse away secretions and blood following the surgery. There are many videos on YouTube/online showing how this can be done. This should be started gently at first. It should be started the day after the operation and used twice daily for 4 weeks.

Steroid drops

You will be given a bottle of steroid nasal drops to place in both nostrils twice a day, to be used immediately after flushing the nose with the nasal wash. These can be placed with the head tilted back and will help reduce the internal swelling following the surgery.

Antibiotics

Some patients will require antibiotics if there is an element of infection present during their sinus surgery. This is individual and on a case by case basis. You will be informed of this following your procedure.

Recovery

After undergoing Sinus Surgery (FESS), it's important to be prepared for the recovery process

Pain and Discomfort: Mild to moderate pain and discomfort are common. You will be given pain killers to go home with. Use them regularly and you can also add Ibuprofen if you need additonal pain relief.

Nasal Packing or Splints: Small disolvable nasal packs will be placed at the time of surgery. The nasal wash is hugely important in helping remove these in the first few days following the surgery. Please use the nasal wash at least four times a day for the first 4 weeks, but it can be used more often if you wish. Please continue the wash twice daily following this, until you are seen in the follow up clinic at 8 weeks.

Nasal Congestion: You may experience nasal congestion or difficulty breathing through your nose initially due to swelling. This is normal and should improve as the swelling subsides. Try not to blow the nose in the first week after the surgery, as it may cause bleeding. Some nasal bleeding after surgery is very common. An ice pack on the forehead can be used if this is bothersome. Try to use the nasal wash to clear the nose regularly.

I use dissolvable sutures in the nose. These will slowly breakdown in the weeks following the surgery.

Follow-up Appointments: I will schedule an initial post-operative appointment 2 months following your surgery, dependent on the type of surgery you undergo. This will be to examine your nose and ensure everything is healing correctly.

Activity Restrictions: Avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and bending over during the initial recovery period to minimise the risk of complications and promote proper healing. You can build up to your normal activities 2-3 weeks following the surgery. Avoid contact sports for 3 months.

Final Results: It's important to understand that the final results may take some time to fully develop. If you have a history of allergic rhinitis (hayfever) or nasal polyps, you may need to use a nasal steroid spray/drops longterm to maintain the benefit of the surgery.