Rhinoplasty/ Septoplasty/ St. Vincent’s Factsheet

What is a ? What will happen on the day of my ? Rhinoplasty is surgery to repair or reshape the . We ask that you shower before you come into hospital It may be performed to change the size of the nose, and remove your jewellery, make up and nail polish. change the shape of the nose, narrow the nostrils and/ It is advised that you leave valuables such as jewellery or change the angle between the nose and the lips. and large sums of money at home to decrease the This surgery involves the re-sculpting of the bone and possibility of items being misplaced and theft. cartilage of the nose, which can improve the On the day of your surgery please make your way to appearance and/or function of your nose. the St. Vincent’s Day of Surgery Admission Area (DOSA), which is located on the first floor of the In-patient What is a Septoplasty? Services Building, Princes Street, Fitzroy. A Septoplasty is the removal of sections of cartilage from the . The purpose is to have both When you arrive the nursing staff will check your nostrils of equal size to provide a clear airway for easier pulse and blood pressure. breathing. For your surgery you will need an anaesthetic. The anaesthetist (the doctor who will give you the What is a Turbinectomy? anaesthetic) will meet with you before your surgery A Turbinectomy is the removal of the turbinate bones, to talk to you about your health and the best type of which act as drainage passages for the sinuses and anaesthetic for you. A general anaesthetic (anaesthetic also relieves the pressure on the floor of the nose. to put you to sleep) is normally used for this procedure. What happens before my operation? St. Vincent’s is a busy hospital so please be aware that you may need to wait up to three hours for your Before surgery you may need to attend a pre-admission operation. clinic. At this clinic, the health care team will ask you about your health, medication and lifestyle. What happens during the surgery? They may test your blood, take x-rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG). Septoplasty/Turbinectomy This operation is usually done from inside the nose. Your doctor will talk to you about what medications A small cut is made in the septum (the wall in between to take before you come into hospital. It is important your nostrils). The crooked parts are straightened and/ to tell your doctor if you are taking any blood thinning or removed the turbinate bones are removed and any medications, such as aspirin or warfarin. little bits of bone are removed. The nose is usually Please bring your medications into hospital with you. packed with gauze to stop small amounts of bleeding. Once a date for surgery has been scheduled for you, This procedure takes approximately 20mins. you will be sent a letter informing you of your surgery Rhinoplasty date. This will include information on what you need This operation can either be done entirely from to bring with you into hospital. the inside of the nose, which does not leave any visible If you do not need to attend preadmission clinic, scars on the nose because all of the cuts are made we will telephone you and tell you when your surgery inside your nose or from the outside. If the operation is scheduled and what to bring to hospital. You may is done from the outside of your nose, the skin also receive a letter informing you of your time and between your nostrils will be cut. Once this scar heals date of surgery. it is usually difficult to see. Please make sure you confirm your date for surgery. Your surgeon will advise you which would be the best techniques in your individual case. The night before your surgery, the hospital will call you between 2.30pm and 7pm to inform you of You will have a small plaster placed on your nose to the time you need to stop eating and drinking before help keep the nose straight. This type of surgery may your surgery and what time to come into hospital. take anywhere between 1 and 3 hours depending on how much of the nose needs to be altered.

Factsheet July 2007 Rhinoplasty/ Septoplasty/ Turbinectomy continued

What happens after the operation? Before you leave the ward some will: You will wake up from the anaesthetic in the recovery – Make a follow-up appointment at St. Vincent’s room, and be transferred to your ward shortly Clinics for you. afterwards. A nurse will monitor your blood pressure, – Medication will be given to you if prescribed by pulse, temperature and oxygen levels regularly. your doctor – A medical certificate will be given to you if required You may have an oxygen mask on to help you breathe’ (please make sure you ask for one) and an intravenous drip (IV) in your arm giving you – A letter will be electronically sent from the hospital fluid. This will be removed once you are tolerating your to your local doctor (GP) food and drink. You will not be permitted to eat and drink until four hours after surgery. This is because you Please remember to take all your belongings and x-rays may feel sick, vomit or have pain after your surgery. home with you. Your pain may be treated in a number of ways. This will What should I do once I get home? be decided by you, your doctors and nurses depending – Your doctor may recommend one week off work on the type of pain you have. You may be given tablets after the operation to give your body the best chance or an injection to help you feel better. of recovery. There will be a pack of bandages inside your nose for – You should avoid doing any strenuous activity, the first 24 hours after your surgery. This will require especially lifting anything heavy. Do not lift anything you to breathe through your mouth. You may also more than 2-3kg for two weeks after surgery experience some pressure type pain in your nose. (this equals the weight of a bag of oranges). The morning after your surgery your doctor will remove – You should avoid having hot showers and hot food your nasal packs. You will be required to wait a few and not smoke for 7 to 10 days after the operation hours before going home so the nurses can monitor as this may cause bleeding. any bleeding from your nose. There is a small possibility of bleeding from your nose or the back of your throat for 7 to 10 days after surgery. If you had a rhinoplasty there will be a small plaster on If you cannot stop the bleeding by applying ice to the your nose and you may have bruised and swollen eyes. back of your neck you will need to go to the nearest The doctor will remove the plaster from your nose after emergency department as soon as possible. 7 days.

When can I go home? Contacts Ear, Nose & Throat Unit You will be required to stay in hospital for 1 night and St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne will be able to go home the morning after your PO Box 2900 operation. Fitzroy Victoria 3065 Patients are usually discharged between 10am and Telephone: 9288 2211 11am so the room can be prepared for another patient. Liaison Nurse: 9288 2755 Waiting List Officer: 9288 2271

This information sheet is intended as a guideline only. If you have further questions or concerns, please ask your doctor.

Factsheet July 2007