Is it normal to still have congestion 10 days after septoplasty?

Question

I had my surgery 10 days ago and had my nose cleaned 3 days ago at my post op appointment however I'm still really congested to the point of getting really bad headaches that last all day even when I take tylenol for them and today 1 sneezed out part of my stitch. The doctor said it looked good at my appointment and the stitches would dissolve but I'm still concerned

Joelle Rogal, MD · Answer

It is still quite early after your surgery.  You can expect to feel congested for about 4 weeks after a septoplasty.  Best to speak with your surgeon if your headaches continue, or any other symptoms worsen.

Jon Kurkjian, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. 
With any nasal surgery, the name of the game is patience. At one week, we would expect you to have quite a bit of swelling and bruising still noticeable and may have trouble breathing out of one or both nostrils. By the end of two weeks, typically, you will still be swollen but look more like you have a bad cold, rather than post surgical. Swelling can take up to a year to be completely gone, however, by 9 weeks you will look very good and should see big difference from your pre-op pics.

Is it normal to still have congestion 10 days after septoplasty?

Answers (2)