Tips for Quick Septoplasty Recovery

Septoplasty is surgery that helps correct nasal deformities by reshaping the nasal septum. The nasal septum is a wall that separates your two nostrils and supports your nose. 

If you have a deviated septum, it probably means it is not in its usual position and thus needs surgical correction. But how can you recover quickly after Septoplasty? In that article, we’ll discuss tips to boost the Septoplasty recovery process.

What Are The Causes Of A Deviated Septum?

While some people are born with the condition (as in clefts), other deviated septum cases are caused by injury to the nose — from car accidents or sports injuries.

The nasal septum is the firm but flexible wall that divides both sides of your nose. It should be perfectly centered or slightly off-center under normal circumstances — so slightly that you may not even notice it.

How Do You Know You Have A Deviated Septum?

Here are common symptoms you should look out for:

• Sleeping difficulties — disrupted sleep and waking up often at night.
• Blocked nostrils that don’t respond to treatment
• Frequent sinus infections

If you have one or more of these symptoms, present them to your physician. Usually, you will be referred to an otolaryngologist — a specialist ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.

9 Ways To Speed Up Your Septoplasty recovery process

The recovery time for a septoplasty is reasonably short, and the procedure is generally considered relatively safe. It’s so safe that most patients don’t need pain medication after surgery. 

However, there are some things you can do to speed up your recovery and get back on your feet as quickly as possible. Here are some tips for speeding up your recovery after a septoplasty:

1. Avoid pressure on the nose.

Try not to press down on your nose, and don’t rub it. That may be hard, but you must avoid putting pressure on your nose for at least one week after surgery. 

That means no picking at scabs or cleaning up dried blood or other foreign matter in your nostrils—let a doctor or nurse do that for you.

2. Position of your head: Lie at an Incline

That position is helpful because it reduces swelling, a common complication post-surgery. But, of course, the ideal way to achieve that is by using pillows to prop up your head so it’s higher than your body. 

That will help reduce any excess fluid in the nose and sinuses and will help prevent any bleeding that may occur during surgery or afterward.

3. Maintain a healthy diet

Eat soft foods that are easy on your nose and throat. You may not like eating much, but you must eat nutritious food to maintain strength and energy. 

Try eating soups, pureed foods, and soft pasta dishes. Avoid chewing on the left side of your mouth and biting into anything hard until the stitches are removed.

Drink plenty of water so that mucus does not become too thick in your nose and throat. That will also help thin out any blood developed following surgery.

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4. Resting Your Eyes

Resting your eyes is very important during recovery from any eye surgery. The muscles around your eye are delicate and can be easily strained if you don’t give them time to rest and heal properly. 

Resting your eyes will help ensure you don’t experience any long-term side effects from the surgery. 

It’s best not to read or watch TV while recovering from that procedure, especially if you had something done on both sides of each eye (bilateral).

5. Avoid Getting Your Nose Wet

Avoid getting your nose wet. While that may seem obvious, it’s essential to realize that most of us are far more likely to get our noses wet than we think. 

When showering, bathing, and swimming, avoid getting water in your nose by keeping it out of the water stream (yes—that means not keeping your head below the surface). 

If you are in a pool or hot tub, consider bringing a towel to dry off before returning indoors.

For the first few days after septoplasty surgery, avoid getting into situations where excessive cold air might blow directly on your face by closing windows or doors before turning on any air conditioning units or heaters.

6. Avoid Strenuous Activities

The most important thing you can do is rest. Avoid lifting heavy objects, especially during the first week of recovery. That includes luggage and grocery bags, which can be extremely painful to lift if you’re not careful.

Avoid contact sports like basketball or football—even gentle contact may cause pain that will delay your recovery.

It would help to avoid strenuous exercise such as running during that period. Instead, reduce your overall physical activity, so your body can focus on healing rather than maintaining a normal lifestyle.

7. Be Careful with Sneezing and Coughing

After Septoplasty, the procedure may slightly alter the new shape of your nasal cavity. That is why avoiding sneezing and coughing is essential until your doctor gives you the all-clear. 

If you have to sneeze or cough, do so gently with one nostril at a time—that will help prevent further damage to your nose.

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8. Balance antibiotics and life routine

The first thing to remember is that you should take your antibiotics as prescribed. Please don’t take them longer than the specified time, and don’t start taking them until you feel better. 

You may feel better with just one or two days of medications, but you should be able to see your surgeon before taking any medication on your own. 

Generally, if you have an allergy to antibiotics or other drugs, do not take them unless directed by a medical professional.

9. Rest well

If you’re in school or work full time, consider requesting some time off to recover adequately without feeling pressured to rush back into work too quickly. 

If possible, try setting up a comfortable spot in front of the TV with plenty of blankets and pillows so you can lie down whenever necessary—you might even want to bring some snacks along for when hunger strikes!

Read Also: Rhinoplasty Recovery: 8 Tips to Boost Your Recover Time