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Immediately after surgery a conforming plaster splint is applied
to the nose. The patient may place ice packs over the eyes for the
first two days to reduce swelling and minor discomfort. Suitable
pain medication and sleeping pills will be dispensed. The nasal
protective splint is removed by your surgeon on the third post-operative
visit approximately five to seven days after the operation. The
majority of patients do not require nasal packing.
The patient will have the feeling of a minor cold from one to twelve
weeks after the surgery due to the attendant congestion of the nasal
passageways. Patients undergoing correction of an impaired airway
will feel a definite improvement but cannot expect air to flow as
well through the reconstructed airway as through an open mouth.
The eyelids will be discolored and swollen for a period of approximately
five to seven days. Residual bruising may be covered with cosmetics.
The office staff will assist you if this is requested. Occasionally
the whites of the eyes will become temporarily bloodshot which may
last for several weeks but always resolves spontaneously.
The upper lip may feel stiff and unnatural for a varied period
of time. Some numbness may be noted in the upper lip and over the
tip of the nose for a period of up to six months.
Although the major effect of the nasal operation will be evident
in two weeks, minor improvements continue to occur over a period
of six to twelve months. These later changes are so gradual that
the patient may not even be aware of them.
The final outcome depends upon the age of the patient, the type
of skin and the patient's healing ability. The older the patient
and the thicker the nasal skin, the longer the residual swelling
will remain. In such cases it will be more difficult to achieve
a thin, chiseled nasal appearance. Certain problems may occur and
it is important that you be aware of the risks involved.
If there are any questions regarding persistent post-operative bleeding
or discomfort in excess of that controlled by pain pills, the surgeon
should be contacted. The patient must resist the urge to pick the
nose with fingers or Q-tips for at least four weeks to minimize
the possibility of bleeding.
Other complications can include a narrowed passageway with difficulty
breathing, nasal asymmetry or thickening over the top of the nose
due to internal scarring and possible leaning of the nose to one
side due to drift or displacement of the fractured bones. There
may be areas of permanent numbness of the nose and/or lip.
A small percent of patients may require a second operation to reduce
scarring beneath the skin and reposition the nasal fragments.
Results vary among patients but the majority of patients are happy
and enjoy the improved quality of life. This information is provided
to acquaint you with the risks as well as the benefits associated
with this procedure. Of course, it is not possible to advise you
of every conceivable complication and other problems can occur which
are unexpected.
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