Is Having Your Splints Removed After Rhinoplasty/septoplasty Painful?

Years ago, when I trained, we put a lot more packing in the nose and left it in for many days. Now, much less packing is used and it is often removed after one day. This has little discomfort and actually a relief to get the packing out. Even taking off the cast, if done gently is painless.

Hello and thank you for your question. I only place an external splint and never place internal splints. It is not painful during the postoperative recovery process at all. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

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

The splint removal is the last "obstacle" before seeing your new nose. It is put on the nose to protect the new shape of your nose, as well as protect your nose from any possible injury during the immediate postoperative recovery and keep to the swelling down. It is usually removed 7 days after the procedure and it is basically painless. The only uncomfortable part of this can be the tapes sticking to your skin, so the medical professional removing them should be more careful/slower while doing this. Don't worry about the split, the worst is behind you, this is just a quick postoperative step before your new nose reveal!

In general, splint removal after rhinoplasty is not painful, but more so described as "weird" or uncomfortable.  The splints are bulky and can cause some discomfort upon removal, but it is a quick process and most tolerate it very well.  If you are anxious about the process, you may want to take a pain medication prior to your appointment (but be sure to have somebody drive you to and from your appointment if you decide to try this option).

This is a common concern of patients.  A lot of it has to do with what they have been told by other people who had a rhinoplasty in the remote past, when packing the nose was common.  However, packing the nose after rhinoplasty is extremely rare in today's surgical standards due to better drugs and techniques used in the OR.  The only thing placed in the nose by me after a rhinoplasty is a small piece of folded up absorbable gauze in the nostrils which is removed after 7 days along with the external splint.  Removal of the splint is painless.  An adhesive remover is used to dissolve the glue (Mastisol) placed on the nasal skin to keep the splint on for seven days.  So...I would not be concerned about the removal of your splint, and be sure to ask your surgeon if he packs the nose!
Hope this helps.

There are 2 types of splints, external and internal that can be placed after a Rhinoplasty/ Septoplasty. I describe getting external splints removed to my patients as slightlry uncomfortable. Internal splints can be a little bit more unpleasant since the packing is being removed. Once the splints have been removed you will be able to breath much better than before you had surgery in most cases. Splints can be uncomfortable but the outcome is what makes it worth it.

Thank you for this great question which many patients contemplating or undergoing this procedure are sure to ask. There are two basic types of splints used in Rhinoplasty: external and internal. Removal of external splints, which typically consist of either a thin aluminum sheet or thermoplastic material placed on top of your nose, is not painful at all as long as it is very gently teased free before removal. There are many different subtypes of internal splints, some that resemble a thin sheet of plastic, others tubular in shape. These are usually held in place with a suture through the septum, but the knot is purposefully tied very loosely to facilitate easy clipping in the office and removal. In my experience, removal of the internal splints are the most uncomfortable part of the first post operative appointment, although it is usually not associated with sharp pain, just some pressure and discomfort. The good news is that it is a very quick process, which is followed by almost instant relief and the patient's ability to breath easily through the nose, often times for the first time in their lives. I hope this answer helps alleviate some concerns!

The external splint comes off easily, and although that can be mildly unpleasant, it’s not really painful. Internal splints, which are sometimes used after septoplasty, are more uncomfortable to remove. But still, the pain is modest, and in general does not necessitate a pain pill. If the nose is packed, and the packing must be removed, many patients find that to actually be painful. I use absorbable packing that does not need to be removed when doing a septoplasty.

The removal of the splint on the outside of the nose is painless. If there are some inner splints then it is mildly painful. The worst pain happens with heavy gauze packing inside the nose but most surgeons do not use it any more. RegardsDr. Janjua

It really depends upon what the surgeon uses inside the nose. Some surgeons use no packing, but in my experience, this leads to more troublesome oozing the first night after surgery and excess swelling inside the nose for the first few weeks. I generally place a light dressing of soft gauze for the first night only: this not only eases how often you have to change the drip pad overnight, but also helps reduce the build-up of swelling by pushing the nasal tissue against the external splint. When we remove it, there is momentary pressure followed by immense relief and the ability to breathe. If we have to put internal splints in the nose, we use soft silicone sheeting that does not hurt upon removal. Larger packing, fortunately not used much anymore, may be more painful.

In our practice, we do not use nasal packing, but if we are repairing a severely deviated nasal septum, temporary septal silicone splints may be placed and removed two weeks postoperative. The external splint and sutures are removed around 7 days postoperative, and this does not hurt. Septal splint removal at 14 days postoperative is also painless, and typically leads to gratifying nasal breathing.Hope this helps you.Dr Joseph