11th day after sinus surgery. Nothing is coming through my nose but draining down my throat. Is this normal?

Question

Garrett H. Bennett, MD · Answer

You can have increased post nasal drip for several months after a sinus surgery procedure. It is bloody for the first day, then pinkish clear for a week and then will be black or dark red turning to brown for a month or two. If you are having yellow or green discharge from the back of your throat then you may still have or may have developed a sinus infection during your recovery. If this is the case then go to your surgeon and have him treat the infection. If not then what you are experiencing is most likely normal recovery.

Mark Loury, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Even in a healthy state over 90% of all sinonasal drainage is moved toward the back of the nose and then into the throat.  It takes about 4-6 weeks after surgery for the nasal and sinus linings to recover and resume their ability to clean themselves.  Because the mucous after surgery is thickened from postoperative inflammation and mixed with blood it is very hard to expel it from the nostrils and therefore it drains more toward the throat.  Drainage may take up to 3 months before it is at its minimum volume.

11th day after sinus surgery. Nothing is coming through my nose but draining down my throat. Is this normal?

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11th day after sinus surgery. Nothing is coming through my nose but draining down my throat. Is this normal?

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Sinus Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.