Does my incision sight look normal? I am 5 days post-op. (photos)

Question

I'm still having a little bit of drainage, but it's mostly just mucus, and it's not enough to wear a drip gauze anymore. I'm so sorry these pics look so gross haha but I just wanted to check & see if this looks normal. A lot of people I've seen, their incision sight is nice and clean and blood free and obviously mine isn't. I just wanted to make sure it isn't like infected and this is normal 5 days post-op. Thank you!

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

When your dressing is removed in several days, you will be able to judge your early result yourself. Your columellar incision appears to be covered with tape, and the base view of your nose may be completely expected only five days postoperative. Hope you have a happy reveal! Dr Joseph

Thomas J. Walker, MD, FACS · Answer

You have a lot of scabbing and crusting at the incision site, which is normal when there is no wound care done. Please adhere to the instructions of your surgeon. I ask my patients to clean the incision sites twice daily with hydrogen peroxide on a q-tip and apply Bacitracin ointment twice daily to prevent the scabbing and crusting. However, please don't do that unless your surgeon approves of that. Best wishes!

Matthew Kienstra, MD, FACS · Answer

Unlikely to be infected but hard to tell because of the tape over the incision. The tape absorbs blood and when in that location frequently looks "gross" as you put it. I anticipate much improvement once the tape and splint are removed, usually at day 7 or so. I also can't tell you much about the incision itself as it is under the tape, but it typically heals very well and is barely visible in the long run.

Andrea Jarchow Garcia, MD · Answer

Good afternoon! It is difficult to tell from the pictures about your columellar incision. The incision is covered with the tape around the tip of your nose. Signs of infection of the area however are increasing tenderness at the base of the nose, increasing redness to the skin around the incision, and increasing foul-smelling drainage. Please ask the office of your surgeon first but some gentle cleaning of the area with half-strength hydrogen peroxide on a Q-tip may help eliminate the blood and crusts. You are likely due to see your surgeon in two days or so but it may be worth sending the pictures to his or her office.
Happy Healing!

Sahar Nadimi, MD · Answer

It is hard to see your incision because there is quite a bit of crusting, which is very common after a rhinoplasty. Cleaning the nose can significantly improve the crusting and help with the breathing in those first few days after surgery. In general, I ask my rhinoplasty patients to spray the inside of the nostrils with saline nasal spray 4 times a day, along with gently cleaning with a Q-tip moistened with hydrogen peroxide solution twice a day.  Finally, an antibiotic ointment should be applied to the inside of the nose with a Q-tip twice a day. Please note that these are the instructions that I recommend for my patients and you should closely follow all instructions outlined by your surgeon.

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD (retired) · Answer

If you are in doubt contact and visit your surgeon. Your photos show tape and dried blood or other material obscuring your columnar incision on your nose. I suspect that every thing is ok since there is no evidence of infection and the tip of your nose is nice and pink. There is no reason you could not visit your surgeon and have the tape and debris removed and retap your nose. l am sure if definitely would look cleaner and your questions answered.

Does my incision sight look normal? I am 5 days post-op. (photos)

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