What Could Be Causing Cheesy Pus Smell in Nostril After Rhinoplasty?

Sounds like you have may have an infection, or at least have become colonized with bacteria that don't smell so nice.  Has anyone cultured it?  It may be prudent to have your surgeon take an intranasal culture of the odd smelling discharge.  This will at least direct the appropriate antibiotic treatment.  

Abnormal smells following rhinoplasty surgery can be caused by a variety of problems. When these smells are encountered six weeks after surgery they should be aggressively investigated. It’s therefore important to see your surgeon as soon as possible.
                The smell that you describe could be related to a large number of potential problems. These may include nasal or sinus infections, would healing problems, necrotic tissue, crusting with retained mucous secretions, and retained nasal packing.

                In the majority of cases nasal cleansing with saline irrigation will solve the problem. In some cases antibiotics may be helpful as well. 

A bad odour can be a sign of infection, therefore you should see your surgeon again for another diagnosis. 

Hi Paul,

Cheesy smell is never good unless you are having wine and cheese at the time.

You have some form of infection that is going undiagnosed.  See you rhinoplasty surgeon for re-evaluation.  Someone should also have a look inside your nose with an endoscope.  I would advise my patients to use Alkalol nasal rinses as well.  Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

One of the rare infection that needs to be ruled out is fungus infection. Your surgeon should be able to address this. Follow up regularly as scheduled.

Depending on how much intranasal work is done on your septum it is common to have some unusual symptoms after rhinoplasty.  When the airflow is altered you can have issues with worsening of nasal allergies, postnasal drip or even the sense of dripping out of the front of the nose.  The smell can either be a simple increase in drainage to your nose or sometimes the dissolvable sutures that are placed internally trap and hold mucous creating crusting in the nose like a scab.  If this is sitting in place long enough...then you can have some of this unpleasantness.  But it will all resolve!  So hang in there.  The best option in the short term to help yourself out is to go to your local CVS, Walgreen's etc. and pick up the Neil-Med Sinus Rinse bottle and begin a daily regimen of gentle irrigating to the inside of your nose.  It will work wonders for you and is the most natural way to cleanse the nose.

I have performed Rhinoplasty for over 20 years and IMHO, any unusual smell in the nose after Rhinoplasty is an infection until proven otherwise.  Youi should see the plastic and cosmetic surgeon that did your Rhinoplasty for evaluation ASAP.