Scabs in nose after rhinoplasty

Healing After Rhinoplasty

It is normal to experience scabbing during the healing process of your rhinoplasty. I would recommend doing a saline rinse or using Vaseline with q-tips to clean and loosen the scabs.

If you are still concerned after trying this method, consult with your facial plastic surgeon. (Carlo Honrado, MD, FACS, Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Scabs inside the nostrils after rhinoplasty

Scabs a month after surgery may or may not be normal. Although peroxide and Q-tip can be helpful, you may need to see your surgeon so that they can clean out some of the most tenacious of crusts.

Occasionally, some suture material can hang out for a while and may need to be removed. These knots can also attract crusts / scabs. Bottom line is: Go and see your surgeon.

He or she should be happy to examine you. A simple cleaning and reassurance may be all you need since this is early in the healing process. (Michael M. Kim, MD, Portland Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Treating Scabs after Rhinoplasty

Generally, the scabs and crusts that build up in the nose after rhinoplasty will resolve when the incisions are healed. This can take a couple weeks, but by a month post-op, incisions should be healed. I tell all of my patients to let me do the cleaning if there are residual crusts. I can be a bit more aggressive and also have the benefit of a headlight and special instruments.

Scabs in nose after rhinoplasty surgery

Finally, after two weeks, I encourage my patients to use “simply saline” or “ocean” nasal sprays (gently!) to help rinse out the nose and improve humidification. Please contact your surgeon of specific instructions. (Evan Ransom, MD, Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Scabs after rhinoplasty.

If you still have scabs a month out from your surgery, there is still probably an open area in the nasal lining that has yet to close. Depending on the amount of re-arranging of tissue, this can happen. The answer to your question is do what your surgeon told you to do. Only he/she knows what was done to the nose and what to expect for healing. My post op instructions are at the attached link near the bottom of the page. Sounds like what you were told. My patients also use a salt water spray called Simply Saline. (Stuart H. Bentkover, MD, Boston Facial Plastic Surgeon)

What to Do with Scabs Inside the Nostrils After Rhinoplasty

Scabs in nose after rhinoplasty operation

It is best to use dilute hydrogen peroxide on Q tips to gently clean the scabs. You may also spray saline nose spray to help remove the scabs. (Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)

Crusting and scabs after rhinoplasty

Incisions are made on the inside of the nose during rhinoplasty surgery. As these incisions heal, crusting and “scabs” can develop around these sites. To help avoid scabs from forming, use of nasal steroid sprays and antibiotic ointment can be helpful during the postoperative period. Frequent trips to your surgeon are also necessary after surgery to evaluate the sites and also to clean these areas. I would not recommend “picking any scabs,” but instead visit your surgeon. (Edward S. Kwak, MD, Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Cleaning Nasal Crusting After Rhinoplasty

Scabs in nose after rhinoplasty procedure

You could use a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide and then some nasal saline solution to rinse it. Also, if you did not get the desired results then your surgeon can manually do so. (Ali Sajjadian, MD, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)

Healing After Rhinoplasty

Nasal crusting is frequent in the first several weeks following rhinoplasty. Hydrogen peroxide works well to help dissolve dried blood, but It can be slightly irritating to the tissues and can dry out the mucous membranes.

Try diluting the hydrogen peroxide to half strength with water – or try using nasal saline spray. You should also reschedule an appointment with your surgeon to make sure that all is healing as it should. (C. Spencer Cochran, MD, Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon)