Septoplasty Care:
Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that is done to correct a nasal problem, mainly when it concerns the nasal septum that may be crooked or deviated. The septum is the structure made of bone and cartilage that separates the two nasal cavities. Usually, the septum should be located right in the middle of the nose. However, when its position is deviated into one of the two cavities, this cavity becomes narrow and normal airflow is impeded. One of the most important things that you should know after surgery is the proper septoplasty care tips.
Home Care Tips after Septoplasty:
- Resting while elevating your head and having someone at home to assist you.
Once you get home after your septoplasty procedure, then you should make sure that you stay in bed and rest with your head elevated above the level of your heart. This could be done by putting your head on two to three pillows. This could help in minimizing swelling as well as the accumulation of fluid on the tissues of your operated site. For the proper septoplasty care, it is best if you have somebody to stay with you at least for 24 hours after your surgery, so that you would have assistance in getting up and going to the bathroom.
- Avoiding straining yourself.
Another great septoplasty aftercare tip that you should know about is avoiding any forms of straining. If you find that you are constipated, then you should not strain to pass your bowels. Instead you should take a gentle laxative or a stool softener so that your constipation could be eased.
- Eating only a soft, light, and cool diet.
Once you have fully recovered from the anesthetic that you were given during your surgery, the most ideal septoplasty care tip that you could take on regarding your diet is sticking to a soft, light, and cool one. You need to refrain from taking any hot liquids for a number of days. You also have to take in slow in eating after your operation even if you are already hungry, so that that postoperative nausea or vomiting could be prevented.
- Applying ice packs or cold compresses on swollen areas.
It would is normal for you to undergo some swelling around the eyes, on the nose, cheeks and upper lips right for a number of days after your septoplasty procedure. The ideal septoplasty care tip for this is to place ice packs or cold compresses on the swollen areas as much as you can tolerate. This would help keep the swelling down as well as help in making it subside earlier. Postoperative edema and pain could also be eased with this ice pack application.