HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Caring for your broken nose after surgery
Te manaaki i tō ihu tāwhatiwhati i muri i te pokanga
When you have your broken nose straightened, you will have a local anaesthetic, which numbs your nose for two to four hours.
Afterwards, it is best to get someone to drive you home – or to wait two hours before you drive.
When you are home:
- take two paracetamol tablets (Panadol or Paracare) every four hours to control the pain. Do not take any more than eight tablets in one day
- do not drink alcohol or take any recreational drugs for 24 hours, as these may react badly with the local anaesthetic
- rest for the next 24 hours. Do not try any heavy lifting or hard physical work for the next two days.
If the pain continues, or if you become hot and feverish with a nasty green nose discharge, phone the Christchurch Hospital Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat) Department on (03) 364‑0985.
Over the next few days you should:
- be careful at times when you may bump your nose, such as when you have small children or animals on your knee, or when you are in bed at night
- just dab your nose gently – do not wipe it vigorously or blow it hard
- keep your mouth open if you sneeze
- keep any plaster on your nose dry and stay out of the sun to avoid overheating (try to keep the plaster in place for at least one week)
- if crusts form inside your nose, gently sniff warm, salty water from your cupped hand to soften them. Do not pick your nose.
You should also avoid contact sport for the next four weeks as your nose heals.
Written by Otolaryngology Department, Christchurch Hospital. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIBKN-171363
