Surgery, then, is performed while the patient is asleep. A tube is inserted into the patient's throat and stays there during the operation to assure that breathing is not obstructed. After surgery, most patients regain full consciousness in the recovery room, although people differ in their responses to anesthesia and some feel drowsy for a while after they return to their own hospital room. During the first few hours after the operation, there will be several people both doctors and nurses attending the patient. They monitor the blood pressure, pulse, and level of alertness, and they check the patient's eyes and ask the patient to perform certain simple tasks, which are tests to be sure that recovery is going well.
Some patients find that their throat is sore from the tube that was placed there during surgery.
Pain medication can be prescribed if the incision in the upper lip or abdomen is painful. Some patients have a headache or feel a sensation of pressure from the nasal packing. Patients are always reminded not to hesitate to let the nurses know if they have any discomfort. The patient's mouth will be dry and possibly tender because of surgery, and there will be absorbable sutures in the upper gum. Patients can rinse with water as often as they wish, although it is important not to swish water vigorously in the mouth, and they can brush their teeth normally.