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Is It Wrong to Clean the Nose with Cotton Stick Few Days After Nose Operation?

asked 9 months ago by marisinimari in estonia
Latest answer by Philip Miller, MD
Question viewed 674 times
Tags: 1 week post-op, damage

i am in despair! I had a nose operation 11 days ago. on the 3rd day after surgery I started to clean mu nose with cotton stick ( you know, those you clean your ears with). Is it totally wrong and I could bring bacteries into my nose ja damage my nose and there will be infection because of that or is it ok to do this? because my surgeon did that once and I thought I have to do it as well.

13 answers to Is It Wrong to Clean the Nose with Cotton Stick Few Days After Nose Operation?

Q-Tip cleaning after Rhinoplasty

Not to worry. Often the inside of the nose gets crusty after rhinoplasty and can be irritating and impair your breathing. GENTLE cleaning of the nostrils with a Q-tip soaked with hydrogen peroxide will loosen the crusts and you can very carefully and gently moisten the crust. It will often melt away or become soft enough that it falls out painlessly. I have my patients coat the inside of the nostrils with bacitracin after the perioxide cleaning. Once... more

Philip Miller, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drphilipmiller.com

Q tip in the nose after rhinoplsty

First it does not seem that you did anything wrong, yet. Letting the water run off the outside of your nose while in the shower is one thing. Taking a Q tip into the nostril is another thing. Most rhinoplasty surgeons would not like the idea of poking inside the nose. You may cause bleeding, infection or a tear in the suture line. Always good to ask your surgeon what you can and cannot do, as he knows how he dd the operation. more

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Cleanng your nose after rhinoplasty

Relax. Don't panic. You're fine. I think it's fine to clean gently just on the inside of the nostril with a slight wet Qtip. It's just to clean the dry blood. I would not push the Qtip in any further than the actual cotton tip. I'm sure you didn't do any damage.

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Cleaning the nose after surgery

Usually I recommend that patients use a moist Qtip to clean up around the rim of the nostril so that dried blood and mucous doesn't build up. However, there are incisions inside the nose so patients should be careful to be too rough or to put the Qtip up too high in the nose. After about a week patients can be more aggressive in cleaning the nose.

John Alexander II, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Clean nostrils with q tip

I routinely instruct patienst to clean their nostrils with a q tip and dilute peroxide. I then have them place some Bacitracin or Bactroban ointment as well. There are usually dissolvable sutures which can get caked with dried blood or mucus and become uncomfortable or cause blockage. This helps treat and prevent that problem.

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Q tips

T he nose is an amazing organ. Leavr it alone. You probably did no harm or you would have had more pain doing it.The natural mucus will clean the nose

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Is it wrong to clean my nose with cotton swabs after my Rhinoplasty?

Yes, it is wrong IMHO for you to be placing anything inside your nose during the post-op Rhinoplasy phase. This includes Q tips, fingers or anything else. You won't create an infection but you could cause bleeding, premature suture removal or opening of the internal suture line...all of which is bad. I do not allow my Rhinoplasty patients to do these things for months after their Rhinoplasty and these rules are for their own safety. If you're... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Clean up on the outside only after rhinoplasty

Though some surgeons might allow it, we prefer cleaning on the outside only for the first week or two after rhinoplasty. Infection is one concern, however bleeding is probably the greater risk. We would have you keep things out of your nose. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Cleaning inside nose after rhinoplasty

Some surgeons actually request that their patients gently clean the entrance of their nostrils with a cotton-tipped applicator, while others strictly forbid it. In general, most surgeons recommend against inserting anything deep in the nose. I think the best thing to do in your case would be to discontinue doing it until you discuss it further with your surgeon and seek his/her opinion on the matter. Letting your surgeon know your concerns will also allow him/her to examine you and make sure... more

Sarmela Sunder, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

A Tip on Using Q-Tips on the Tip of the Nose: Cleaning Nose with Q-Tip After Rhinoplasty

HI Mari, Most likely you will be fine. Discuss your concerns with your rhinoplasty surgeon. I sometimes have my post rhinoplasty patients clean their external nostrils with a Q-Tip soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution to loosen the dried crusts of blood that can accumulate around the outer nostril. It is not wise to pass the Q-tip deep into the nose. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cleaning nose with q-tip after rhinoplasty

I would definitely ask your surgeon if it is okay to clean your nose with a cotton tip applicator. He or she may have specific concerns in your case. With my patients I tell them to use one to gently clean the inside of their nostril area using dilute peroxide followed by some vaseline. This helps loosen the dry blood and dissolve the dissolveable sutures that are there. I tell my patients to be gentle and not probe too far. I have not had any problem with this regimen in any of my... more

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cleaning the Nose after Rhinoplasty

Yes it is okay to clean your nose. Following rhinoplasty the nostrils often develop crusting, making breathing difficult. i recommend that my patients clean the nostrils with wet Q tips on a daily basis to remove this crusting. Then apply a thin layer of vaseline or antibiotic ointment to the inside of the nostril. This prevents future crusts from sticking. Prior to performing this cleaning, make sure with your treating physician that you are clear to do this... more

Gilbert Lee, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Is It Wrong to Clean the Nose with Cotton Stick Few Days After Nose Operation?

Dear marisinimari in Estonia, No surgeon like to have his patients blindly probing the nose after surgery with a cotton applicator. Doing so may result in separation of the incision or damage to the septum (if it was operated on). It is best to let your surgeon do so under direct visualization UNTIL he clears you to resume the task. If you are "in despair", please see him before you unintentionally damage something. Peter A Aldea, MD