Function or purpose of tape after Rhinoplasty?

Tape is used for 5-7 days following rhinoplasty to minimize swelling. Many plastic surgeons will also use a plastic "splint" in cases like your where the nasal bones were cut to help splint the bones and prevent them for healing in an uncontrolled fashion. I have one a few occasions reapplied tape for an additional week following surgery but this is unusual.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

           Post-operative care varies from patient to patient following rhinoplasty surgery and depends upon a multitude of variables.  In the vast majority of cases we remove nasal tape at the time of splint removal five to seven days following surgery.
            In most cases, we don’t replace the nasal tape, but in rare cases nasal tape is utilized for an additional period of time.  Tape is often used for longer periods of time when patients have extreme swelling.  In addition, tape may be utilized to control skin remodeling when patients have excess skin following surgery. 

The tape is in place to help reduce or prevent swelling of the nose after surgery which can lead to scar tissue formation and an undesired result.  Most surgeons tape for a week postoperative but I would talk with your surgeon for specifics in your case.