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How Should I Prepare and What Should I Pack for Nasal Surgery in Gangnam, Seoul?

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

Start preparing a week or two ahead

Good preparation makes surgery day calmer and recovery smoother. At Gangnam Yonsei ENT Clinic, functional nasal surgery is done under local anesthesia with same-day admission, so most of your preparation is about medicines, logistics and setting up your home or hotel for the first few days.

Review your medications

Bring a complete list to your consultation, including:

• Blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs (for example aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or newer anticoagulants)
• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, which may affect bleeding
• Supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo or garlic capsules
• Medicines for blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid and heart conditions

Never stop a prescribed blood thinner without guidance from the doctor who prescribed it. Dr. Kim will explain what to do with each medicine.

What to bring on surgery day

• Passport or ARC
• Medication list and any recent test results or scans
• Comfortable clothes with a front-opening top, so nothing is pulled over your nose
• Glasses instead of contact lenses
• Phone and charger, earphones if you like music while waiting
• Payment card; parking is fully covered for surgery patients

Leave at home: jewelry, valuables and makeup.

Set up your recovery space

• Two or three pillows to keep your head raised at night
• A humidifier, or a damp towel near the heater
• Soft, cool foods: porridge (juk), yogurt, soup that is not too hot
• Plenty of water, lip balm and tissues
• Gauze pads for drainage
• Saline rinse kit, if advised for after packing removal

Plan your schedule

• Clear the day of surgery and preferably the next day or two.
• Note your follow-up date and plan travel around it.
• Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas and flights in the early recovery period.

What we do at Gangnam Yonsei ENT

Before surgery, Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, a board-certified ENT and former clinical assistant professor at Yonsei University, reviews your health, explains the procedure step by step in English and gives you written aftercare instructions. Preoperative evaluation may include nasal endoscopy and a sinus CT scan to plan the operation precisely.

The clinic's same-day system lets testing, consultation and surgery take place on one day when appropriate. If you prefer, you can also have the consultation first and come back on a separate day. Most patients go home the same day without a guardian.

Read more about same-day local anesthesia surgery and the specific procedures, such as septoplasty.

Questions to ask at your consultation

• Which procedure is planned, and how long will it take?
• Will there be packing, and when will it be removed?
• Which medicines should I pause or continue?
• When is my first follow-up, and how many visits should I expect?
• When can I return to work, exercise and flying?

If you get sick before surgery

A cold, fever or flare of sinus infection shortly before surgery may mean it is better to postpone. Message us on WhatsApp at +82-10-5344-4464 to discuss. Directions are on the location and hours page.

Related: do I need a guardian.

Related questions

Should I eat before nasal surgery under local anesthesia?

Instructions vary by patient and procedure, so follow the specific directions the clinic gives you when surgery is scheduled. Many local anesthesia procedures allow a light meal, but confirm this rather than assuming, particularly if you have diabetes.

Do I need to stop aspirin before surgery?

Aspirin and other blood thinners affect bleeding, but stopping them can be risky for some people. Tell Dr. Kim about all such medicines, and do not stop any prescribed medicine without advice from the doctor who prescribed it.

Can I wear contact lenses on surgery day?

It is better to wear glasses. Packing and swelling after nasal surgery can make the eyes watery, and handling lenses with a sore nose is awkward. Bring your glasses case with you to the clinic.

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.