Is Packing the Nose Needed After Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty?

No one likes packing the nose. Not the patient or the surgeon. It makes breathing more difficult and is uncomfortable for the patient. In general, most surgeons will avoid using it if they don't need it.
However, sometimes when we are fixing the septum, we realize that the septum is much more deviated than we thought. Or, sometimes, we have to do extra things in order to make it more straight. In these cases, we may need to pack the one or both nostrils to support the delicate septum during the healing process.
In other words, packing the nose is not something we like to do, but we do it if we think it will benefit the patient.
I usually tell my patients that I rarely pack the nose, unless I see something during the surgery that makes me believe it is necessary. It is done only because I want to take good care of my patient and make sure everything heals correctly.
So, the decision is up to your surgeon and whether or not he/ she thinks it will be beneficial to your daughter. If he/she does use it, understand it was for your daughter's good.

This varies among surgeons.
To simplify the explanation I will use an analogy: Think of the septum as a sandwich of two layers of mucoperichondrium (bread) and the cartilage between them (meat).
A septoplasty involves lifting the mucopericondrium from the cartilage (lifting the bread off of the meat and sometimes removing it). This leaves an empty space between the two layers (bread) that can fill with blood under pressure (septal hematoma). This can cause the layers to erode and open the wound.
Applying pressure to both sides may prevent collection of the blood. This is accomplished with packing.
Alternatively, placing a quilting stitch back and forth between the two layers is also used to close down the empty space and prevent a collection.
Surgeons vary in their preferences due to personal experience. Discuss this with your surgeon to discover the technique they will utilize.