Is It Okay to Clean Dried Blood Inside Nose a Day After Rhinoplasty?

It is best not to be vigorous cleaning the nose one day after surgery. Dislodging any clots may precipitate some spots of blood and although will not cause any issues it is best to leave alone for a few days and then simply use a nasal saline spray. If the clots are very uncomfortable I normally aske my patients to come back to my clinic and my specialist nurse will help gently clean any crusts. After the first week you should be fine doing this yourself 

Always better safe than sorry poking and prodding around after any type of surgery, at least until your doctor gives you the go ahead after you see him/her back for an initial post-op visit.  Enjoy...RAS

Thank you for your question.  Post surgical cleaning can vary from surgeon to surgeon. I recommend my patients begin their cleaning protocol the next day using both hydrogen peroxide followed by polysporin ointment. Use a well soaked q-tip with hydrogen peroxide to help remove the dried blood gently around the base of the nostrils.  We recommend using a saline spray as well to further assist in the removal of any dried blood.Hope this helps!Dr. Philip Solomon

It is important to be careful not to cause any new bleeding while cleaning out old dried blood crusts. You can very gently clean using an ointed Qtip without going to deep and being careful around the stitches. You can also use appropriate sprays.Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

The best thing to do is to ask your surgeon what he/she wants you to do. I usually have patients apply some ointment to soften the crusts, and then clean gently with a peroxide Q-tip. But it's always best to follow your post op instructions closely.

I advise my patients to not touch or "clean" anything inside the nose on their own.  I like to be the first to do this when I see them at their 1 week follow up appointment.  At this time, I remove the nose cast, any packing in the nose, and clean the inside of the nose out.   Immediately after surgery, I do tape some gauze to the bottom of the nose to absorb any blood and drainage.   I allow my patients to remove this gauze on their own at home before I see them at their 1 week post op appointment if it gets too bloody or starts to come off on its' own.

From the day after surgery you may gently clean the dried blood at the entry of the nostrils with a wet cottonbud (Q-tip).  Avoid inserting the cottonbud too far into the nose to prevent any damage to the internal wounds.  After 2 weeks following surgery you can start to use a saline nasal spray to clear any deeper congestion.





 

You can certainly clean the lower portion of your nose the day after surgery, but go slowly and take extra care when doing so. Moisten a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and insert just the soft tip into your nose, gently passing it over the areas where blood has dried. (Emphasis on "gently".) Avoid "digging around" in your nose or injuring the inside walls of the nostrils. This should help keep you comfortable while also preserving your results.

We suggest our patients start using peroxide on an applicator when all discharge has stopped, typically 1-2 days postoperative. The moistened Q-Tip may be placed into the nostril, just to the end of the cotton tip, and it is twirled like a baton while holding it between the thumb and index finger.Hope this helps.Dr Joseph

Follow the post operative guidelines given to you by your surgeon.  In my practice, I let patients clean up to the tip of a q-tip inside their nostril (only very gently) with diluted hydrogen peroxide and encourage saline nasal spray to wash out the scabs and crusts.  Having ooze and drainage for a few days after rhinoplasty surgery is typical.  I rarely use packing because I don't find it necessary and feel that it only serves to torment patients.