A small amount of bleeding from either the front of the nose or into the back of the throat is common following sinus surgery. This will typically resolve on its own. Patients are often provided with a drip pad to prevent blood from getting onto clothes or bedding. This can be changed as needed. Excessive bleeding that fails to resolve, or requires multiple drip pad changes may be concerning and warrants a call to the office.
Often times, following sinus surgery, packing is required either to prevent bleeding, or to stent open portions of the sinus cavities. This packing will be removed in the office 2-3 days following the procedure.
It is important not to blow your nose for the first week following sinus surgery, as this could induce bleeding, or damage the thin bony walls surrounding the eyes or skull. Immediately following surgery, a saline mist such as Simply Saline should be used to moisturize the inside of your nose and prevent crusting. After the sinuses have had some time to heal, your surgeon will instruct you to switch to larger volume saline irrigations. Antibiotics and often times steroids will be prescribed to prevent inflammation and scarring.
Your surgeon will need to see you every week for at least the first several weeks following endoscopic sinus surgery to clean out your sinuses and monitor for infection. This is extremely important, to prevent the recurrence of polyps or infection and to prevent the development of scar tissue.