(The day after Rhinoplasty, the dressings and nasal packs are changed. The patient will be discharged home .The merocel packs are removed, the silastic intranasal splints and external thermoplast splint are kept for a week.
Nasal Surgery: Post Op Instructions
Patients who have received general anesthesia may experience some nausea and occasionally, vomiting. It is therefore preferable to eat a bland light meal or a liquid diet on the first day after the surgery. Regular diet may be resumed the next day.
Wound care and other information:
1. Elevate the head at all times. Sit in a recliner or use two or three pillows when sleeping. Head elevation reduces bleeding and swelling.
2. Take the pain killers with some food.
3. You may take a shower with lukewarm (not hot) water. Make sure you have someone with you in the house in case you feel drowsy  from taking pain killers.
4. Do not remove packing or splints if present. You may have to breathe from your mouth if the splints get occluded with mucous or clots. This may cause a dry mouth. It is therefore very important to drink a lot and maintain adequate hydration.
5. Bleeding is expected for two to three days after surgery. Just change the drip pad as needed and keep the nostril clean. Clean the dried blood and secretions from the nostrils with hydrogen peroxide 3% and cotton buds dipped in hydrogen peroxide.
Care after removal of packs or splints:
1. Do not blow your nose for at least one week from the day of surgery. Avoid heavy lifting or straining. These activities will increase the likelihood of nasal bleeding.
2. If you have to sneeze, please do it with your mouth open. This prevents excessive pressure build-up and bleeding from the nose.
3. Do not take Aspirin as it prevents clotting and increases the bleeding.
4. After the removal of the nasal splints or packs, use saline spray (SOLSPRAY ®) 4 to 5 times daily to keep the mucosa moist and to help loosen the crusts.
5. Avoid lifting or exercising in order to decrease the risk of bleeding due to a rise in blood pressure. Â If excessive bleeding occurs, rest, elevate the head of the bed and put ice compresses on the face and neck.
Medications:
An antibiotic is usually prescribed following the surgery. Pain killers can  cause somnolence, drowsiness and constipation.
Follow-up:
Please return to follow up to be seen in the office as per the appointment that was given to you
(Post operative instructions are explained to a patient who under went both Rhinoplasty and Sleep Apnea Surgery in Jubilee Hospital Trivandrum, Kerala, in south India.)
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