Maxillary Sinus Lift Post Surgery Expectations

Scientific research* involving 76 patients (41 male, 35 female), shows the following experiences may occur within the first two weeks after your sinus lift surgery has been completed.

Pain: if a patient will have any pain the highest level of pain occurs on the 1st post-surgical day by 72% of the patients surveyed; improvement occurred by the 4th post-surgical day; about 12% of patients still experienced some pain by the 7th post-surgical day.

Swelling: was the most important concern for patients; it was reported to be the greatest on the 2nd post-surgical day and improved by the 5th post-surgical day; by the 7th post-surgical day 13% of patients still reported some swelling.

Bruising: was reported by 56% of patients surveyed; peaked by 3rd post-surgical day; by 7th post surgical day 13% of patients still reported some degree of bruising.

Nasal bleeding: was reported by 13% of the patients surveyed; 3 patients reported nasal bleeding by 7th day post-surgical.

Difficulty with mouth opening: was reported by 35% of patients surveyed at highest level at 1^st day post-surgical; improved on 3^rd day post-surgical; 6.6% reported still difficulty on 7^th day post-surgical

Inability to eat and enjoy food: reported at highest level on 1^st to 3^rd days post-surgical; improved on 4^th day post-surgical; 18.5% of patients still some degree of difficulty on 7^th day post-surgical.

Inability to participate in routine daily activities: reported at highest level on 1^st day post-surgical; improved on 4^th day post-surgical; on 7^th day post-surgical 13% of patients reported difficulties with routine daily activities.

Sleeping difficulties: reported at highest level on 1^st day post-surgical; improved 2^nd day post-surgical; on 7^th day post-surgical, 4% of patients still reported some degree of sleeping difficulties.

Returning to work: reported 1^st to 3 days post-surgical most patients did not go to work; more than ½ of the patients returned to work on 4^th day post-surgical; on 7^th day post-surgical about 12% of patients still had not returned to work.

Bad taste, bad smell: negligible

Difficulty of nasal air flow on the sinus lift area: negligible

Breathing, swallowing, and speech difficulties: negligible

Generally speaking, the significant patient-related predictors for delayed recovery are gender (female) and younger age.

 

* Mardinger  O, Poliakov H, et al. “The Patient’s Perception of Recovery After Maxillary Sinus Augmentation: A Prospective Study, J Periodontol 2009;80:572-576