If you suffer from chronic sinus issues, surgery may help improve your quality of life. There are various procedures available, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty.
After surgery, you may experience some slight bleeding from your nose for several days postoperatively; this is normal and can be managed using an oxymetazoline nasal spray.
1. Smoking
While smoking’s health risks have long been established, smoking also damages your sinuses and nose in less obvious ways. Sinuses and nasal cavities contain hairlike structures known as cilia that protect from bacteria buildup and mucus accumulation – when these cilia are destroyed through smoking, your sinuses become vulnerable to infection and further illness.
Smoking reduces your body’s ability to form blood clots, increasing your risk for bleeding and bruising after surgery – particularly with older patients with fragile blood vessels.
Smoking increases your risk of complications with rhinoplasty by inhibiting its healing. This could result in bad scarring, an extended recovery timeframe, nasal deformities, loss of smell or taste sensations, skin loss (sloughing), infections and/or poor results.
At the same time, smokers tend to experience more difficulty with breathing due to clogged sinuses. This issue can be addressed using functional endoscopic sinus surgery or balloon sinuplasty, both outpatient procedures that can significantly enhance nasal and sinus functionality.
Common surgical procedures to improve sinuses and nose health include septoplasty to repair a crooked nasal septum, turbinate reduction and balloon sinuplasty to enhance nasal breathing; all three can also be combined as part of a nose job to address cosmetic defects in the nose.
2. Blood-thinning medications
Blood-thinning medications like Warfarin (Jantoven), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Xarelto), Edoxaban (Eliquis), and Heparins can significantly lower your risk of dangerous vein clots by decreasing the body’s ability to form blood clots; however, these may also increase bleeding risk during and post surgery.
Based on your medical history and type of rhinoplasty surgery being conducted, doctors may advise avoiding certain foods or herbs which could interfere with medication, keeping the head elevated at nighttime, and taking herbal supplements such as Bromelain and arnica before the procedure.
While most bruising after nasal surgery is caused by adjustments to your bridge or narrowing of nostril width, blood thinners pose an additional risk of excessive bruising due to decreasing your body’s ability to form blood clots following injury – possibly necessitating additional post-surgery care to remove blood clots that will lengthen recovery.
Some patients with crooked noses suffer from septoplasty, a procedure performed during rhinoplasty to correct deviated septae. It involves making an incision hidden by tissue and dissolvable stitches which fade away within one week after surgery; however, there are risks involved, including excess bleeding or infection in the area around the septum; developing a hole through it (septal perforation); cerebrospinal fluid leakage from within; as well as the need for additional surgery later to correct complications arising out of surgery to rectify complications that result from having deviated septae.
If you are taking blood thinners, it is essential that you notify your physician prior to any surgery and don’t abruptly stop or alter their dosage without their approval, as doing so could increase the risk of severe and possibly life-threatening bleeding. Furthermore, carrying an ID bracelet or necklace that displays what illness the person being treated for has, their dosage prescription details, as well as who the appropriate healthcare providers are in case of emergencies can help minimise side effects associated with blood-thinner medication use.
3. Anesthesia
Sinus surgery can treat numerous issues, from chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps to other growths in the sinuses. Furthermore, surgery may correct deviated septum issues whereby bone and cartilage that divides nostrils does not sit straight vertically. Doctors usually try other treatments or medications before suggesting surgery as a remedy; however, surgery remains an effective solution when other remedies fail.
Most sinus surgeries are conducted as outpatient procedures and require either local or general anesthesia for your comfort and safety. Local anesthesia numbs only small areas while you remain conscious, while general anesthesia incapacitates all aspects of your body, rendering you unconscious for the duration of surgery.
Anesthesia risks vary based on its type, your medical history and other aspects of health. Anesthesia has saved numerous lives through significant advances, but it does carry certain risks.
Reduce your risk of bleeding and bruising from anesthesia by not eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before surgery. Furthermore, it is advisable not to smoke and take medications that interfere with blood clotting processes.
As soon as your surgery is over, you will spend several hours recovering in the recovery room before awakening. A nurse will remove any gauze from your nose before applying a saline spray to keep your nose moist and prevent scabs from forming. Furthermore, be sure to continue rinsing regularly for best results.
Your doctor may apply a nasal splint for protection and support. This splint usually stays in place for one week before coming off on its own a few days later.
4. Changes in blood pressure
Some individuals may have a genetic condition that makes it harder for them to form blood clots, leading to easy bruising around their nose and eyes. It is also possible to experience this issue from taking medications like aspirin or NSAIDs; in either instance it is important that any potential issues with this happen prior to any major surgeries taking place. If this problem arises for you it is crucial that it is discussed with your healthcare provider prior to undertaking surgery procedures.
After sinus surgery, it is common for some minor bleeding to occur within 24 hours post-procedure. Most surgeons are adept at stopping any excess bleeding promptly but some people may still bleed after that point has passed.
Bleeding from surgery can also result in septal perforation, when the bone that separates nasal passages is damaged and leakage of brain fluid occurs, potentially leading to meningitis.
Complications related to sinus surgery are less likely when using a balloon catheter instead of cutting into gum tissue to unblock sinuses, and more likely in patients who suffer from conditions that cause their blood vessels to be fragile, such as hemangioma or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
After surgery, it is crucial that activities that promote bleeding are avoided in order to maximize healing and minimize complications. This includes blowing hard on the nose or straining too hard. Furthermore, taking aspirin-containing products or NSAIDs for two or three weeks after may also help decrease complications while aiding healing.
5. Physical activity
When an opening between a sinus and nose becomes blocked, mucus cannot pass freely, leading to inflammation, swelling, pain and reduced sense of smell. Sinus surgery may open the passage and relieve these symptoms; however, they may return again or an impaired sense of smell may persist.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty and closed reduction procedures use thin instruments that enter the nose to clear away blockage. Healthcare providers administer numbing medicine before inserting an instrument with a camera lens attached (an endoscope). Once there, they can then use their expertise to remove polyps or scar tissue as needed.
Rhinoplasty involves creating an internal or external cut to alter the nose by removing or rearrange bone and cartilage, then suturing or stitching over modified bone and cartilage with sutures or stitches to close incisions over the modified bones and cartilage. A nasal splint may be placed to hold its new shape for up to two weeks post surgery.
Once recovering from nasal surgery, it is important to gradually ease back into an exercise regime. Before undertaking high intensity aerobic classes or other vigorous cardiovascular activities after your procedure, consult with the doctor first to see if they are safe. Listen carefully to your body when exercising – if your nose throbs during physical activity stop and give your nose time to heal properly before engaging again in activity.
As soon as your operation has taken place, it is recommended to avoid participating in contact sports such as basketball and football for some time afterwards. The risk of injury increases significantly with these activities because balls could easily hit either your nose or another person’s face and damage the nasal cavity.
