[Cocoline Column] Is It Okay to Blow Your Nose After Nose Surgery?

Hello, this is Cocoline.

It’s the first day of February, a Monday, and the weather is very overcast.

Today, I’d like to talk about nasal congestion after surgery.

After nose surgery, during the early stages of recovery, you may feel like your nose is especially blocked, or as if your nose is completely full of mucus.

At times like that, patients often contact the clinic and ask, “Can I blow my nose?”

To get straight to the point, absolutely not during the early recovery period.

Except in special cases, open surgery is generally performed so that the operation can be done accurately and safely.

(In the past, closed surgery was also popular for a time, but as awareness of surgery has increased, and since our intelligent patients now understand that space and visibility are important in surgery, more people prefer safe open surgery.)

Both functional surgery to improve breathing, such as rhinitis surgery, and cosmetic surgery to improve appearance very often involve operating directly inside the nose.

The reasons why the nose feels blocked after surgery can be broadly divided into two categories.

1. The inside of the nose is swollen

2. The nose is actually blocked

First, let me explain the case where the inside of the nose is swollen. After surgery, as the nose settles into place, the inside may temporarily swell, and at that time, your nose may feel more blocked than it did before surgery.

This feeling of congestion usually improves gradually after about one month, so it is best to allow enough time for recovery.

In addition to the feeling caused by internal swelling, mucus may also actually form and block the nose. In that case, you should never blow your nose forcefully.

For up to one month after surgery, the inside of the nose has not fully settled, so applying strong pressure can cause problems. That is why, at Cocoline, for a safer result, we only advise you to blow your nose comfortably after checking your progress at the one-month follow-up and confirming that you have recovered enough and that your nose is stable.

Then what should you do about nasal mucus? If you ask that,

this is how Cocoline advises you.

1. If the mucus is runny, let it flow and then remove it.

2. If the mucus is thick, swallow it and spit it out through your mouth. (Even in this case, you need to be careful not to exert strong force when inhaling through your nose!)

3. What if neither of those works? If you feel like you’re going to die from the discomfort, you can have it removed at the hospital! If you feel too uncomfortable, you can visit a nearby otolaryngology clinic close to your home, explain that you had nose surgery, and receive suction there!

Afterward, you may feel like your nose has suddenly opened up, but that feeling is temporary and it can become blocked again. Please keep that in mind.

So today, I explained how to prepare for nasal congestion caused by mucus during the recovery period.

Right after surgery, you cannot check the condition of your nose because of the splint or dressing, and until before the major swelling goes down at around one month, even minor symptoms can feel quite significant. We understand that very well.

That is why we always listen carefully and stay focused on our patients’ symptoms after recovery.

These days, since aesthetic apps and various online communities have become so developed, many people post questions about what they are worried about after surgery and receive answers there. But in fact, I believe the hospital that performed your surgery can provide the most accurate feedback about your symptoms.

Sometimes, when we listen to patients who come in for revision surgery, we hear that many of them had a very hard time emotionally because they did not receive proper care after their first surgery.

Since opening, Cocoline has always paid close attention to our patients’ voices so that we can answer any questions before surgery, after surgery, and even 3 or 5 years after treatment has ended.

For over 10 years, unchanged, we hope you will remember us as a clinic that treats you for your sake.

Our two chief physicians, including Director Kim Seon-gu, will always care for your nasal health with the same consistent mindset as when we first started.

The Cocoline blog provides columns for safe nose surgery. We understand the desire to look better right away, but surgery is something that must be approached with caution above all else. Please read just three columns on the blog, and if you have any questions, feel free to request a consultation anytime.

For a more friendly and higher-quality medical experience,

Cocoline only provides a limited number of surgeries and consultations each day. If you would like smooth care, we would appreciate it if you contact us in advance.

We hope you have a good day today as well.

We will return with the next column with more useful and interesting content.

Thank you.

#Cocoline #NasalCongestionAfterNoseSurgery #NoseSurgery #RhinitisSurgery #OtolaryngologyRhinitisSurgery #ENTSpecialist #DirectorKimSeon-gu