What to Do with Scabs Inside the Nostrils After Rhinoplasty?

It’s not uncommon to develop
crusting and scabbing following nasal surgery. This is especially common when
rhinoplasty surgery is performed in combination with septoplasty and the use of
nasal splints. This crusting can result in nasal airway obstruction and
postoperative discomfort.















For
these reasons, it’s not unusual for patients to express concern about this
problem.

In an effort to minimize crusting
and scabbing, plastic surgeons frequently recommend nasal saline rinses or
hydrogen peroxide rinses. Vaseline can be used to soften scabs and occasionally
scabs can be removed with Q-tips and instrumentation.

If
this issue represents a major problem for you then consultation with your
plastic surgeon will prove helpful. Your surgeon will be able to recommend a
treatment plan that will address this issue.

There can be a build up of crust and old blood especially in the first few weeks after surgery that causes congestion and can be uncomfortable. Crusted blood in the nostrils can be softened and removed quite easily. Make a solution of half hydrogen peroxide with half saline and using a Q-tip moistened in this solution to dab onto the crusted blood. This will help to dissolve and remove the crusted blood. In addition, the use of saline nasal spray can help to soften crust and mucous that is further back in the nasal cavity. If you are uncomfortable doing this, you should ask your surgeon to show you how to clean your nostrils.

It is not uncommon to have some internal swelling and even some scab formation for 3-4 weeks after rhinoplasty. You should carefully remove this with hydrogen peroxide. One should use an antibiotic ointment and nasal saline spray and it will eventually go away.

Generally, the scabs and crusts that build up in the nose after rhinoplasty will resolve when the incisions are healed. This can take a couple weeks, but by a month post-op, incisions should be healed. I tell all of my patients to let me do the cleaning if there are residual crusts. I can be a bit more aggressive and also have the benefit of a headlight and special instruments. Finally, after two weeks, I encourage my patients to use "simply saline" or "ocean" nasal sprays (gently!) to help rinse out the nose and improve humidification. Please contact your surgeon of specific instructions. Best of luck!

Scabbing on the inside of the nostrils might occur, but it is not something you should have to worry about. I would suggest using vaseline with cotton swabs (q-tips) and saline rinse. If that does not work, I would suggest you consult your rhinoplasty surgeon.