Recovery guide
Turbinate Reduction Recovery Guide
Worried about a symptom? See when to call usQuick 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 2 sprays of saline in each nostril every 2 to 3 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.
Recovery at a glance
- Days 1 to 2Back to work and daily activities. Some bleeding is expected. Head raised for 3 nights.
- Week 1Stuffier than before. Saline spray every 2 to 3 hours while awake. No nose blowing, heavy lifting or flying.
- Weeks 4 to 6Breathing keeps improving as the nose heals.
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.
What is Turbinate Reduction?
Our team explains what the turbinates are, how they are reduced, and what recovery looks like.
How do I care for my nose?
- Saline spray: use 2 sprays of nasal saline in each nostril every 2 to 3 hours while awake (about 5 or 6 times a day) 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 for the first 3 nights: raise your head and shoulders about 30 to 45 degrees, using a foam wedge, 2 or 3 pillows under your upper back and head, or a recliner. Keep doing it longer if it helps you breathe.
- 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?
Most people have mild to moderate pain that over-the-counter medicine controls well. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen together work better than either one alone.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 1,000 mg every 6 hours, no more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours (or 3,000 mg if your package says so, or if you have liver problems or drink alcohol regularly).
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin): 400 mg every 8 hours with food, or naproxen (Aleve): 1 tablet (220 mg) every 8 to 12 hours with food, no more than 3 tablets in 24 hours. They do not appear to increase bleeding after nasal surgery. Skip them if you have a stomach ulcer or kidney disease, or if your surgeon told you not to take them.
- If we prescribed medicine, take it exactly as directed.
- If you take aspirin or a blood thinner, follow your surgeon’s instructions on when to restart it.
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.
- If you had sedation or general anesthesia: for 24 hours, do not drive, drink alcohol, use machinery or sign important papers. After general anesthesia, we recommend having an adult stay with you the first night.
What these limits mean: heavy lifting means anything over about 10 pounds (a gallon of milk weighs about 8), such as a full laundry basket, a case of water or a suitcase. Strenuous activity means anything that makes you breathe hard, strain or sweat: running, weight training, yard work, hard cycling or sports. Walking, light housework, desk work and showering are fine. When the limit ends, start at about half your usual effort and build up over a week; if bleeding starts, stop and rest.
When should I call?
Call us for
- A temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher that lasts more than 24 hours or starts 3 or more days after the procedure, or any temperature of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher. Use a thermometer, and check it just before the next dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, because both lower fever.
- 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.
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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 2 to 3 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.
Scan for the full guide
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Sources
- Cramer JD, Barnett ML, Anne S, et al. Nonopioid, Multimodal Analgesia as First-line Therapy After Otolaryngology Operations: Primer on Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2021;164(4):712-719. doi:10.1177/0194599820947013