Is it safe to use q-tips to clean your nose 3 months after rhinoplasty?

Hello and thanks for your question.  Keeping the airway clear after rhinoplasty can be extremely challenging.  You will not want to interfere with any packing if it is still present.  Check with your operative surgeon to see if they recommend using Q-tips.  If they approve, you will want to clean the area with extreme care so that you do not affect post-operative nasal tissues.
A saline rinse can be one of the safest ways to help clear nasal passages.  Rinsing with saline will moisten the nasal passages, allowing them to expel mucus and debris naturally.  While some surgeons will approve Q-tips and blowing the nose at three months —  or even sooner — err on the side of caution and try a rinse first.
For more details and personalized advice, talk to your operative surgeon, or contact another board-certified facial plastic surgeon in your area for a second opinion.  Good luck!
- Jacqueline T. Cheng, MD

Gentle use of Q-Tips to clean the nose is acceptable at 3 months.  The inside, as well as the outside, of your nose is still swollen and can often trap mucus.  I recommend using a saline mist to clean the inside of the nose and then blow.  As the swelling decreases, you may see an improvement in the buildup of mucus.

Dear postquestions,every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery