What happens During Surgery?
You may be put under a general anaesthetic but a local anaesthetic can be used. The operation usually takes about 45 minutes.
Your surgeon will make a cut on the lining of your nose over your septum and lift the mucosa away from the cartilage and the bone. They will remove the parts of the cartilage and bone that are bent and they will put the rest back in a straight position.
Your surgeon may place some packing in your nose to prevent bleeding. The packing will either dissolve in a few days or will be removed a few hours after the operation.
How long will I stay in hospital?
You should be able to go home the same day. If you had non-dissolvable packing in your nose, you will need to stay overnight and the packing will be removed the next morning.
What is my recovery time?
It is important to avoid catching a cold, which could cause an infection inside your nose. Your doctor may advise you to stay off work and away from groups of people for a few days or up to 2 weeks after the operation, depending on the risk.
Do not exercise, have a hot bath or bend down for 2 weeks.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a full recovery and can return to normal activities.
