The first week after surgery, limit your activity sharply and take the following measures:
- When you rest or sleep, keep your head elevated on two or three pillows and try to avoid turning on your side. Sleeping in a recliner is often a good idea.
- You can walk around, but avoid bending at the waist or picking up heavy objects, because overexertion can cause bleeding.
- Avoid sun exposure.
- Avoid risk of injury, although you will probably hit your nose one or more times during the first week. This will hurt, but will cause no problem unless the force is excessive.
- With assistance, you can bathe in a tub, and you can take a shower on the second post-operative day. Cover the nasal cast to keep it dry. If the cast becomes wet, use a blow dryer to dry it. You can carefully wash your face with a mild soap and a clean washcloth or cotton balls.
- Keep your emotions under control. It is not unusual to feel a bit depressed for a few days after surgery, but this will quickly pass as you begin to look and feel better. Anger or crying will only add to the swelling or initiate bleeding.
- Restrict your diet to plenty of fluids and easily chewable foods. Hard to chew foods (like steak) should be avoided for one week.
- Carefully clean around the nostrils with a Q-tip and hydrogen peroxide three times a day. Immediately afterwards, place a bit of pure Vaseline or antibiotic ointment around the nostrils to keep them from drying out.
- Swelling will obstruct your nasal passages for at least two weeks. A humidifier may help you sleep by allowing you to breathe through your mouth more comfortably.
- Do not blow your nose or sniff excessively because this will irritate the healing tissues.
- If you must sneeze, open your mouth.
- Avoid picking up babies, small children or pets, because a flailing little arm may strike your nose.
- Avoid cigarette smoking or being in an area with excessive smoke—this irritates the nasal tissue and impedes healing.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages the first two weeks following surgery because this may increase your chances of bleeding.
- Avoid medications such as Vitamin E, aspirin or ibuprofen for two to three weeks.