When getting rhinoplasty, I only had packing and a splint. Does not everyone get stents put in? What determines this?

Thank you for your question.
Everyone does need stents and a lot of surgeons do not use stents routinely. There is no reason for your result to be poor because stents were not used. You should discuss your concerns with your Plastic Surgeon. All The Best !

We use neither nasal packing nor nasal stents routinely in rhinoplasty. Many doctors may have different routines depending on their training. Hope this helps. Dr. Joseph

A splint and tape placed atop the nose is commonly done to tamp down swelling on the bridge and tip after surgery.  Splints and/or packing inside the nose is done to both keep the septum midline during the healing process and prevent swelling inside the nose.  However, which patient requires splints or packing depends on the surgery and surgeon preference.  Not every patient needs stabilization on the outside and/or inside of the nose after surgery.  Your surgeon will be able to specify why he or she used specific packing and splints.

Not all Rhinoplasty need a stent to be place inside the nose.  a broken nose or extensive reconstruction determines the use of a stent. Occasionally a stent, which is a firm piece of silicone that acts to stabilize the internal structure of the nose and prevent internal adhesion from forming. The Alar stent is a new method to resolve nasal valve collapse. This stent prevents collapse without the need for cartilage grafts or implants, which leads to quick healing.

Stents are not placed in all patients. When used, stents are placed after there is extensive work done on the septum to make sure the mucosa in the nose heals properly and with less risk of bleeding. Stents come built in with air flow tubes but they usually become clogged after a few days. Packing can work just as well and it is ultimately up to the surgeon to decide which technique they prefer. Hope this helps!

Johnson C. Lee, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon