Cleaning mucous inside nose with hydrogen peroxide and a qtip and my nose started to bleed! Did I damage something?

Question

I am 1 month post op. I have quite a bit of mucous build up in my one nostril, to the point of it being almost painful. I use saline spray religiously, but it seems to just bring it all down to the front of my nostrils where it gets stuck, so I occasionally use hydrogen peroxide and a qtip to clean it out. Tonight while doing that, my nose started to bleed (enough to use a few tissues before it let up). The source seems to be a stitch (see pic). Is it possible that i damaged something? Worried!

Marc DuPéré, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.We, plastic surgeons, all have different post-op routine so it would be best to consult with your plastic surgeon.I recommend initially to clean gently with saline water and to apply polysporin. At one month, you should not need antiseptic solution anymore. Gentle warm water should be plenty.Please note that hydrogen peroxide does dissolve clots very well - so perhaps it was an old clot that you "cleaned up".Hydrogen peroxyde is also an inhibitor of healing when used in full strength... so always dissolve it 1:5 or 1:10.Hope this helps!

Best regards,Dr. Marc DuPere, Toronto Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Best regards,Dr. Marc DuPere, Toronto Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Hydrogen peroxide can be irritating and is probably not necessary for cleaning any buildup along the incision. The fact that you started some bleeding means you are a bit rough but does not mean that you created any significant damage. Follow the instructions of your surgeon.

Aaron Kosins, MD · Answer

This can happen.  Likely you rubbed off a small scab and there was a small amount of bleeding.  Bactroban is better to clean the inside of the nose but make sure to follow up with your PS to make sure all is OK.  It i very unlikely that you damaged anything.Aaron Kosins, MDPlastic & Rhinoplasty Surgeon

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear 10yearsinthemaking,

Thank you for your clinical post and
surprisingly well focused photograph. One month is still very early
following rhinoplasty.  Rhinoplasty can
be completely intranasal incisions or external transcolumellar and intranasal
incisions.  The intranasal incisions can
take quite some time to heal and there are usually dissolvable or absorbable
sutures.  There may be raw surfaces along
the internal lining surfaces and cleansing may dislodge one of the sutures and
cause bleeding.  It is hard to do gentle
cleaning techniques that you have deployed with saline spray and hydrogen
peroxide causing a problem.  Plastic
surgeons have many different ways they recommend intranasal cleaning from
saline sprays to hydrogen peroxide and to Bactroban.

Antibiotic ointment is often a good
idea to keep the intranasal environment moist and humidifier at night if your
room is dry.

However, the most important thing is
to visit your certified rhinoplasty plastic surgeon to ensure that there are no
intranasal concerns as they are in the best position to advise you.

Best of luck and I’m sure you’ll get
an excellent result.

To find out more, please visit the
link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

It is doubtful that you have damaged your nose while cleaning.  Follow up with your plastic surgeon for an exam to confirm.

Cleaning mucous inside nose with hydrogen peroxide and a qtip and my nose started to bleed! Did I damage something?

Answers (5)

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