Patients are told to expect postoperative bloody oozing. The Gelfoam packing is suctioned out over the next several days, aided by the patient’s use of intranasal saline drops and an antibiotic ointment. The external splint is removed at 5 to 7 days after the procedure, and the intemal solid silicone sheets are removed at 3 weeks. Intranasal application of ointment is continued until the previous perforation site is well healed and at least into the sixth postoperative week. Patients may not smoke or be exposed to smoke for at least 3 months after surgery. Vasoconstrictive sprays should be avoided permanently. Steroid sprays should be used with extreme caution. Intranasal vaseline should be used whenever the patient is in a particularly dry environment. The repaired perforation may never reach the strength or thickness of the unperforated septum and may remain susceptible to reperforation.
