What is this inside my nostrils? (Photo)

Question

I'm 1 week post op, there are these bumps right inside my nostrils I know if I touch them I might get an infection/ruin my nose but it's a habit I just don't know what it is they feel weird. Also whenever I clean my nose (gently with a q tip) these rock hard brown things along with goo (mucous?) come out is this normal? Thanks!

David Tauber, MD · Answer

The postoperative time for most rhinoplasty patients is
often fraught with anxiety. During a rhinoplasty, the skin and soft tissues are
often completely separated from the underlying bone and cartilage framework.
The framework is modified and the skin is laid back down. These are big
movements that are often intended to create millimeter changes to the shape of
the nose once it heals. After a rhinoplasty the nose often swells and the tissues become edematous. This makes the normally pliable skin
firm and causes the nose to take on a “weird” appearance in the first few weeks
after surgery. In addition, there may be loose and dried mucous and blood that drains from the nose as old clots dissolve and the nose reacts to the trauma of surgery. It will take 6 months to a year to see a final result. Close
follow-up with the surgeon is essential.

Elias G. Gikas, MD · Answer

These bumps are swollen mucosa (lining of the nose) where the incisions were placed and they are swollen from reaction to sutures.  They will take a few months to decrease in size.  The thing that is showing on the q-tip is dry blood and mucous.  Check with your surgeon regularly for evaluation of your progress.

Stephen J. Pincus, MD · Answer

I suspect that the "rock hard brown things" you're getting out of your nose are pieces of dried blood with or without fragments of dissolvable suture. And the "goo" is just mucus which tends to be more plentiful following the surgery. It is a good idea to keep these areas lubricated with an antibiotic ointment, which will help to soften the suture material and allow it to gently disappear. The ointment will also prevent any localized area of infection.

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your excellent internasal photograph.  The bumps you are referring to are the area of the lower lateral cartilage which was operated on to improve the shape of your nasal tip.It is obvious that you had a closed rhinoplasty since there is no incision across your columella.  In a closed rhinoplasty, the cartilage form the tip portion of your nose is brought down into the nostril.  Portions of that cartilage are removed, and then the mucosa is replaced back where it came from.  However, it is swollen for several weeks to months after the surgery.  The little, rock hard brown things you found on your Q-tip are actually dried blood which has leaked through the suture line inside your nose.  Congratulations.  It appears from the photographs you sent that you picked an excellent plastic surgeon, and yes, everything appears to be normal.

Jon M. Grazer, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

The bumps you see, are the absorbable sutures that were used to close the incision. I would avoid using q-tips, as you could disturbe the incision at this early point.  See your surgeon and let them clean it.Yours,Jon M. Grazer, MD, MPH, FACS

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

You are feeling healing incision lines inside your nose. I would recommend you refrain from too much touching as it can cause an infection especially in the early postoperative period.

What is this inside my nostrils? (Photo)

Answers (6)

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