Will Keeping my Rhinoplasty Cast on Longer Than the Average Week Help with Swelling?

I usually keep the splint on the patient's nose for one week after the rhinoplasty surgery. The splint gets removed and I apply steri- strips on the top of the nose’s skin for a few days. Keeping the external splint longer will not decrease the amount of the residual swelling. Every patient heals differently, but in general the swelling will diminish within 3 first months of your recovery. It is important to keep your head elevated while sleeping to avoid additional swelling.   Taking the anti-inflammatory medication can also help to reduce it. Unfortunately swelling is a natural part of the healing process and will go away with time. You need to focus on the getting better so you can enjoy your new nose.  The full recovery time after the rhinoplasty  takes  up to one year.

Hello,

 

Keeping your nasal cast and splints on for more than a week after the surgery will not reduce swelling and/or enhance the end results of your rhinoplasty.

Therefore, I recommend that you follow your surgeon's instructions and have a great post-op ambulation after your cast removal at about a week after the surgery.

Making sure that you do not engage in strenuous exercise, sleep at a 30 degrees inclined angle, control your daily sodium intake and protect your nose from accidental traumas.

Nature will take its course and your swelling will fluctuates until it resolves completely at about 12 months after your surgery; patience is required to win the race.

I hope this helps. 

Thank you for your inquiry.

The best of luck to you.

Dr. Sajjadian

Certainly the splint does apply some compression and help with swelling initially in the first week. However, I also do not feel leaving it on for another two weeks will keep all of your swelling down. Swelling can occur for the first year. I do believe in taping in certain areas like in the supratip region when trying to encourage a good supratip break. More than creating that break, I feel it helps prevent fluid build up in the supra tip area that can then become scar tissue and blunt the break in that area. If you use your splint longer, then you can not get your face wet at all and I do not think using it longer will make any difference. You will swell more when it is removed, but that will go away in the first few months. Stay away from strenuous exercise for at least 6 weeks and no contact sports or threatening activity where you might be hit in the nose.