Home › ENT Patient Questions – Gangnam, Seoul

How Long Should I Stay in Gangnam, Seoul After Nasal Surgery Before Flying Home?

Answered by Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, MD · Board-certified otolaryngologist · Former professor, Yonsei & Ajou University · Consultations in English

Plan around follow-up, not just the surgery day

Functional nasal surgery under local anesthesia is quick, and most patients go home the same day. The part that takes time is recovery: removing packing, cleaning crusts and checking healing. For expats leaving Korea or visitors planning treatment during a stay, the key question is how many follow-up visits you can attend before you fly.

Typical timelines by procedure

• Turbinate reduction: 15–20 minutes, no packing. Crusting lasts about two weeks, with weekly follow-up dressing. Avoid strenuous exercise, nose blowing and sauna for one week.
• Septoplasty: 20–30 minutes, packing on both sides for one day. The nose needs protection for two weeks; absorbable sutures dissolve in two to three weeks.
• Endoscopic sinus surgery: about 30 minutes per side, packing for one day, antibiotics for a week, crusting for two to three weeks and weekly follow-up.
• Nasal fracture reduction: 15 minutes, packing for two days and an external splint for five days; the bone is reasonably stable at about two weeks.

Why staying for early follow-up matters

• Bleeding risk is highest in the first days after surgery.
• Crusts and clots can block the nose and sinus openings if not cleaned.
• Cabin pressure changes and dry air can increase discomfort while tissues are swollen.
• Your surgeon knows exactly what was done and is well placed to judge healing.

For flight-specific advice, see can I fly after nasal surgery.

What we do at Gangnam Yonsei ENT

Dr. Kim Yoo Suk is a board-certified otolaryngologist whose academic career at Yonsei and Ajou Universities focused on rhinology, including septoplasty, rhinitis and sinus surgery. He trained further in endoscopic sinus surgery at Jikei University in Japan and in endoscopic skull base surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The clinic offers a same-day system: testing, consultation and surgery can happen on one day when appropriate. Before anything is scheduled, Dr. Kim reviews in English:

• Whether surgery is truly needed or medical treatment should be tried first
• Your departure date and how many follow-up visits fit
• What to do if symptoms arise after you leave, and what records to take home

Copies of operative and medical records and an English medical certificate can be provided, so a doctor in your home country can continue care.

Practical arrangements for the surgery day

Because surgery is done under local anesthesia, most patients go home the same day without needing a guardian. Even so, it helps to stay somewhere nearby for the first few nights, keep your schedule light, and avoid long bus or train trips immediately afterward. Have soft foods, water, gauze and your prescribed medicines ready at your accommodation, and keep the clinic's WhatsApp, +82-10-5344-4464, saved for questions during recovery.

Insurance and paperwork

If you plan to claim from international insurance, check pre-approval requirements first. The clinic does not direct-bill insurers. Read payment and receipts for details, and visit our international patient guide.

Warning signs after surgery

Seek care promptly for heavy bleeding that does not slow with pressure, fever, worsening facial swelling, vision changes, severe headache or clear watery drainage from the nose.

Related questions

Can I have surgery a few days before my flight?

That is generally not advisable. The first days after surgery carry the highest risk of bleeding and need packing removal or follow-up. Dr. Kim will suggest a realistic gap between surgery and departure based on the specific procedure planned.

Can my doctor at home do the follow-up?

Sometimes, once the early phase has passed. Take copies of your operative notes and medical records, and confirm before surgery that a local ENT at home can see you. Early follow-up is ideally done by the operating surgeon.

Should I delay surgery until I am settled again?

If your symptoms are manageable with medication, waiting until you can attend all follow-up visits may be sensible. Dr. Kim can discuss the pros and cons of operating now versus later, based on your condition.

This answer is general medical information written and reviewed by an ENT specialist. It is not a diagnosis. Please see a doctor for an examination. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.