Recovery guide
Turbinate Reduction Recovery Guide
Quick answer: Most people return to work and normal daily activities within 1 to 2 days after turbinate reduction, but the nose usually feels more stuffed up than before for a while as the swelling settles. Use saline spray every few hours while awake, do not blow your nose for 1 week, and avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and flying for 1 week. Breathing keeps improving as the nose heals over 4 to 6 weeks.
What should I expect?
- Some bleeding from the nose for the first few days. It is usually mild.
- Congestion, and sometimes soreness. You will likely feel more congested than you did before the procedure, because of swelling. This takes longer to settle than the bleeding, and breathing keeps improving as the nose heals over 4 to 6 weeks.
- Crusting and dried blood in the nose.
How do I care for my nose?
- Saline spray: use nasal saline spray every few hours while awake until your follow-up visit.
- Afrin (oxymetazoline): you may use it as needed for bleeding and congestion for 3 to 5 days, then stop.
- Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow or two.
- Mild bleeding: tape a piece of gauze under your nose and change it as needed.
- Do not blow your nose for the first week, and sneeze with your mouth open.
- CPAP: if you use CPAP for sleep apnea, keep using it while you heal, starting the night of the procedure.
How should I manage pain?
Pain can usually be controlled with over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) and either ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), taken as directed on the bottle.
When can I get back to normal?
- Most people go back to work and normal daily activities within 1 to 2 days, even though the nose is still congested.
- Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise or anything tiring for 1 week.
- We recommend not flying for 1 week.
When should I call?
Call us for
- A fever over 101°F that does not go away
- Bleeding from the nose that does not stop, or any bleeding that worries you
- Nasal pain that gets worse or becomes severe
Call 911 or go to the ER for
Severe bleeding that cannot be controlled, or bleeding with lightheadedness or fainting.
Austin 512-339-4040 · Lakeway 512-682-4798 · Marble Falls 830-992-2830
Questions patients ask
Most people return to work and normal daily activities within 1 to 2 days. The bleeding settles within the first few days, but congestion takes longer as the swelling goes down, and breathing keeps improving as the nose heals over 4 to 6 weeks. Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and flying for 1 week.
Swelling after the procedure makes most people feel more congested than before for a while. It improves as the inside of the nose heals. Saline spray every few hours and Afrin for the first 3 to 5 days help.
Not for the first week. Sneeze with your mouth open, and use saline spray to loosen crusts instead.
We recommend not flying for 1 week after the procedure.
Yes. If you use CPAP for sleep apnea, keep using it while you heal, starting the night of the procedure.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace an in-person evaluation. If your surgeon gave you different instructions, follow theirs.
Full guide: capitalent.com/turbinate-reduction-recovery.html