If it takes 6 weeks to heal, why are casts taken off at 7-10 days?

Different Surgeon have different protocols when it comes to splint removal, etc. In our Practice we remove splint at 2-2.5 weeks post-op and give patients new splint to wear at night for 30 nights to protect it during sleep . It takes months to a year or more to heal on a cellular level . I suggest that you seek an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who preferably specializes in closed technique-- with a wide gallery of before and after photos and discuss details at your consultation

When we remove the nasal dressing one week after surgery, the underlying skeleton is surprisingly firm. There is no need to leave a dressing on the nose for longer than one week, and this would lead to more problems than your concerns merit. Nasal dressing is somewhat uncomfortable, and it also includes the pores of the nasal skin and can lead to skin conditions. Hence all dressings are removed from the nose around one week after surgery. Thank you for this interesting question! Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

Hi! Well as with any surgery complications can occur although with rhinoplasty less common because the face has excellent blood supply. The most common complaint is swelling and residual patient dissatisfaction with nasal shape and size. That is why it is so so important to work with a surgeon who really listens to your goals and discussed realistic outcomes with you.
Most casts are taken off at about 7-10 days because by that time the tissue is "sticky" so to say and has started healing enough that it wont move. Additionally surgical swelling peaks at about day 3-4 which the cast helps to control. Good nasal taping after cast removal continue to help to prevent healing and shape the nose. Of course your nose is susceptible to movement with more mild nasal traumas until the bone is completely healed which is why it is very important not to participate in activities that have a high risk of impact to the face like contact sports

Hi, It is better for you to consult with your facial plastic surgeon who can examine you and give you opinion based on examination. Cast help to reduce swelling in 1st wk of surgery, however healing process will cont' up to 1 year in some cases.

Excellent question. The purpose of a surface splint covering the nose after rhinoplasty is to prevent hematoma by pressing skin down to underlying bone and cartilage, to stabilize repositioned parts, to control swelling which is most dramatic the first five days after surgery, and to protect the delicate nose from impact during sleep, i.e. to transfer the force of any nasal impact to adjacent frontal and maxillary surfaces. By one week, the risk of hematoma has passed, edema (swelling) is diminishing, and a matrix of fibrin and osteoid is adding some stability. Modern rhinoplasty techniques (Piezo and others) allow us to offer a result that looks pretty good after only one week (no bruising), patients cannot tolerate splint covering the middle of their face for longer, and unless significant impact is sustained between one and three weeks after rhinoplasty, the splint is no longer necessary after one week. We secure our splints with skin adhesive, which clogs pores on the nose. A splint longer than one week dilates the pores with secretions and in some cases, acneform infection.

Hello and thank you for your question. External nasal splints are often placed for a week to help with the initial swelling after surgery. Approximately 3/4 of the swelling comes down at a month and the remainder takes about 12-18 months to resolve. I often do steroid injections every 2-3 months to help with the swelling resolution and reduce scarring.

Any surgery has complications, and though we can't prevent them 100%, I would not be too concerned about complications if you find the right aesthetic plastic surgeon. In your rhinoplasty consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your aesthetic goals and concerns specifically -- in your case, since you want the nose bridge narrowed, this would also involve some other specific maneuvers to the rest of your nose to balance it, such as narrowing the tip and reinforcing the nose with multiple cartilage grafts.

Be sure your surgeon discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course. Also, be sure to see plenty of before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar nose appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome.

After seeking out a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon. It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on rhinoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

The nasal cast dies two things. It allow the broken bones to stabilize and it keeps the swelling down. At 7 to 10 days the nose is stable and tthe swelling has resolved. A “botched” nose has nothing to do with the time the cast is left in place

Hello and thank you for your question. Splints are designed to be removed at one week. When good technique is used, your nose will still have structural stability without the splint. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Hi Tasteful, thanks for the question. I think it brings up an important point about post-operative care after rhinoplasty. We rhinoplasty surgeons use casts to help protect our work especially after bone has been cut, shifted, and moved. Your tissues have "memory" and will want to spring back to their original state. After rhinoplasty, this could mean that bone will shift back and take away some of the nice result that was achieved. For this reason, after removing the cast the first week, I will actually have patients try to wear it as much as possible for about one month after surgery to help set the bone. The reshaped nasal bone is like a broken arm bone: it requires a few weeks of stability to make sure it stays in place. Of course, discuss your plans and questions with your surgeon but in my practice, this has significantly helped reduce the nasal bone wanting to shift to its original position.

we take the cast after 7 days to put the new one and you should keep it for 10 days the total is 17 days