6 days after rhinoplasty, and I'm bleeding out of one nostril in the middle of the night. Is this normal?

Question

So, right after the surgery I experienced quite a lot of bleeding, and I was told to expect that. Nevertheless, 6 days after the surgery, long after the bleeding originally stopped two days afterwords, the blood resurfaced. My bathroom looked like the elevator from the shining. Are these possible answers? I don't think I was blowing my nose, just exhaling through my nostrils, not pinching the nose, and I was laughing hysterically by accident earlier.

Julio Clavijo-Alvarez, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your procedure and thanks
for sharing your question. I can appreciate your concern and agree with your
assessment.
Bleeding after rhinoplasty is normal for up to a week.
Usually is more significant in the first 3 days and it improves as time goes
by.
Occasionally you will find increase or surprising bleeding
with sneezing, blowing your nose violently or increasing your thoracic
pressure. If it is something temporary that goes away, DO NOT WORRY. However,
if it is permanent or increasing, Be concern.

Finally, make sure that your doctor is
aware of your process. She/He should be able to guide you best in your care.

Wishing you the best in your journey

Stephen P. Smith, Jr., MD · Answer

Recurrent
epistaxis (bleeding out of the nose) is not a normal finding after any nasal
surgery. Mild bloody drainage is expected over the first few post-operative
days but if these episodes are persistent (lasting greater than 10-20 minutes)
and are recurrent you should be evaluated by your surgeon as soon as possible.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Excessive bleeding is not common, and you should see your surgeon to be properly evaluated. Best of luck.

RHINOPLASTY PROVIDERS NEAR YOU

6 days after rhinoplasty, and I'm bleeding out of one nostril in the middle of the night. Is this normal?

Answers (3)

RHINOPLASTY PROVIDERS NEAR YOU