SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS HAVING BONE GRAFTING AND SINUS SURGERY

Our goal is to help make your post-surgical recovery as uneventful as possible. If you are having a Sinus Lift (also referred to as Sinus Grafting), there are a few things you need to keep in mind.  The more you understand about what to expect, the less opportunity for unnecessary post-surgical complications and anxiety.

DISCOMFORT

Although pain thresholds vary significantly from patient to patient, more often than not this particular procedure can cause moderate to severe discomfort lasting from 4-5 days after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe medication that should help to make you more comfortable.  A word of caution… this medication should always be taken with food.  Taking pain medication on an empty stomach can cause you to feel nauseated. An ice pack applied to external cheek area can also prove soothing.

SWELLING

You should expect to be swollen after this procedure. For some patients, the swelling is fairly localized in the cheek area where the grafting was done For other patients, the swelling can extend from under the eye to the lower jaw.  It takes about 2-3 days to reach its maximum and should decrease dramatically in about 4-5 days.  Icing the area diligently the first day (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) works well.  Unfortunately, some degree of swelling goes along with this particular procedure.

BRUISING 

Post-surgical bruising is fairly common after sinus grafting. The bruising can involve the area under the eye and extend down through the corner of the mouth and into the neck area.  While the appearance may be distressing, it should not cause you undue concern or alarm.  It may start as red or dark purple and then become a yellow greenish color.  It should fade in about 10-14 days. 

BLEEDING

Because sinus grafting is done just below the floor of the sinus, you may experience some slight bleeding into the sinus.  This bleeding will have a tendency to collect, or pool, in the sinus and when you tip your head in a certain direction, it can cause the blood to exit through the nose.  This post-surgical occurrence, like bruising, is not unusual nor should it cause you undue alarm.  It will stop on its own and will usually subside completely in about 24-hours.

The same holds true for any post-surgical bleeding inside the mouth.  Our highly trained staff will show you how to  compress the area with gauze.  Compression of the gauze inside the mouth in combination with an ice pack applied to the upper cheek area will help to control any bleeding.  If you feel you are having excess bleeding, please call the office.  

 POST-SURGICAL ACTIVITY

It is advisable to restrict strenuous activity for the first five days after sinus grafting surgery.  Vigorous exercise, working out, heavy lifting and other activities that increase your pulse rate or blood pressure can affect post-surgical recovery and aggravate all the symptoms mentioned above. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office and speak to the doctor or one of our surgical staff.  One of our  doctors is always on call. If you call after normal business hours or over the weekend, our exchange will respond and put you in touch with the doctor on call.