VivAer Recovery Guide

What should I expect?

• Numbness from the local anesthetic, which wears off over a few hours.
• Mild bleeding for the first couple of days.
• Crusting in the nostrils for a few weeks.
• Sore nostrils for a couple of weeks. This is usually very mild.
• Feeling more congested than you did before the procedure. This comes from swelling and improves with time.
• Most people reach the full benefit 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.

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.
• Antibiotic ointment: twice a day for 1 month, apply a thin layer just inside each nostril opening with a clean fingertip or cotton swab (for example, over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment).
• 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 1 week. After that, blow gently.
• Do not rub, press on or pick at the inside of your nose while it heals.

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 we 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 the same day or the next day.

Had turbinate reduction too?

Follow the 1-week limits from the Turbinate Reduction Recovery Guide: no nose blowing, heavy lifting, strenuous exercise or flying for 1 week.

When should I call?