Septoplasty Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a septoplasty, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Numbness in the tip of the nose or upper front teeth
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Septal perforation (a hole in the septum)
• No improvement in symptoms
• Poor cosmetic outcome

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Bleeding disorders
• Medical problems, such as cardiac disease
• Cocaine use
• Prior nasal surgery with excessive scarring
• Taking certain medicines

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
• Heavy bleeding
• Packing from your nose falls into the back of your throat, causing discomfort
• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital (Vomit may be bloody or the color of coffee grounds from mixing with stomach juices.)
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.