Tonsillectomy Surgery Instructions

Tonsillectomy in adults is performed most often for chronic tonsillitis. This is a tonsil infection that does not respond to antibiotics.

Additionally, tonsillectomy may be indicated for people who have recurrent severe infections in the tonsils, or have problems with sleeping. Children can have sleeping disturbance as a result of very enlarged tonsils.

For a tonsillectomy, you will be placed under general anesthesia, and the tonsils will be removed from the sides of your throat. Bleeding is controlled with cautery when needed. After the procedure a local anesthetic is injected into the area to help with immediate postoperative pain.

Post-operative Instructions

The patient associated with tonsillectomy can be moderate to severe, and can last from 10 to 14 days. Most children and adults lose weight due to the lack of willingness to eat solid food.

It is very important to stay well hydrated. We recommend that you drink non-acidic fluids such as sports drinks, and eat soft food. You will receive antibiotics and pain medicines to use during the healing process, as we want to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Healing from a tonsillectomy generally takes two to four weeks. However, the pain seems to dramatically improve after 10 to 14 days. We recommend at least a week off of work if you are an adult, or school if you are of school age.

Again, staying well hydrated with fluids is the key to healing after a tonsillectomy.