Patient Instructions

Preoperative Instructions

  • You will be contacted once a decision is made for surgery by Dr. Cohen’s surgical scheduler in order to coordinate a date and time for surgery.
  • These surgical procedures are performed at an outpatient surgical center and are done under general anesthesia.
  • If sinus surgery is planned you may be scheduled to have a preoperative planning CT performed  prior to surgery if you have not already had a planning CT.
  • You will often be scheduled to see Dr. Cohen within one week of surgery to review the details of surgery, obtain consent for the surgical procedures planned, provide specific prescriptions and instructions following surgery and answer any questions that you may have.
  • You may be asked to obtain preoperative clearance from your primary physician as well within one month of surgery to make sure you are clear to receive a general anesthetic.
  • You will need to stop all medications that may thin your blood at least one week before surgery and for 2 weeks following surgery. As such all over the counter medications like Aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Excedrin, and others except Tylenol will need to be stopped. All herbal products including Ginko, Fish Oil, Vitamin E, Garlic tablets and others will need to be stopped. If you take anticoagulants like Plavix, Coumadin, Aggrenox, Lovenox or others they will also need to be stopped accordingly after discussion with your Cardiologist.
  • You may need to pre-register with the surgery center where your surgery is planned within 24 hours of surgery.
  • You will need to stop eating and drinking after midnight the night prior to surgery except for essential medications with a small sip of water.

Day of Surgery Planning

  • You will need to arrive at the surgery center one hour prior to your scheduled surgery time with a family member, friend, or relative.
  • You will need to have not eaten or drank anything for 10 hours prior to surgery. Essential medications such as those for high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. may be taken with a small sip of water.
  • You should plan to spend at least 4-5 hours at the surgery center including preoperative, surgical and postoperative recovery time.
  • You will need to have a ride to take you home and someone with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • You may or may not have nasal packing depending on the extent of surgery.
  • If surgery does not include a rhinoplasty then you should not expect a nasal cast or outer bruising such as black and blue eyes.
  • You will have a mustache dressing to catch any bloody or colored discharge from the nose and this can be changed as needed. Usually during the first 24 hours this may need to be changed regularly, but you may not need one after 24 hours.
  • It is recommended that you start with cold clear liquids initially after surgery and when you don’t feel nauseous to advance to soft and then solid foods.  Hot foods and liquids such as soups should be avoided for 3 days following surgery as they can increase bleeding.
  • You should sleep with your head on two pillows for the first 48 hours following surgery to help with swelling and bleeding.

Postoperative Instructions

  • You will need to have a ride to take you home and someone with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • You may or may not have nasal packing depending on the extent of surgery.  If packing is placed it will be taken out 24 hours after surgery in the office and usually only entails small little tampon-like packing on each side.  Very rarely do patients require packing longer than 24 hours in cases of excessive bleeding.
  • If surgery does not include a rhinoplasty then you should not expect a nasal cast or outer bruising such as black and blue eyes.
  • You will have a mustache dressing to catch any bloody or colored discharge from the nose and this can be changed as needed.  Usually during the first 24 hours this may need to be changed regularly, but you may not need one after 24 hours.
  • It is recommended that you start with cold clear liquids initially after surgery and when you don’t feel nauseous to advance to soft and then solid foods.  Hot foods and liquids such as soups should be avoided for 3 days following surgery as they can increase bleeding.
  • You should sleep with your head on two pillows for the first 48 hours following surgery to help with swelling and bleeding.
  • You can resume most of your regular medications following surgery, except the blood thinners mentioned above which are strictly prohibited for 2 weeks following surgery. 

Sinus Surgery Patients

  • You will start nasal and sinus irrigations with a “Neil-Med Sinus Irrigation Kit” 48 hours after surgery 3 times a day. This will help clear out any clots and debris within the nose as it’s healing.
  • You will routinely be seen 7-10 days following surgery for a routine exam and a sinus endoscopy and debridement will be performed. At this visit Dr. Cohen will confirm that everything is healing adequately. Medication adjustments may be made at this visit and you will be allowed to blow your nose gently.
  • Heavy lifting and exercise are to be avoided for 2 weeks following surgery due to the risk of bleeding.
  • You will often be seen 3 weeks and 6 weeks following surgery for regular exams and debridements to make sure all the sinus cavities are healing well without any blockages.