MUCUS?? NOSE DRY AFTER SURGERY.. 3 MONTHS POST -OP-

Question

I had revision surgery 3 months ago, after first surgery attempt a year ago .. My breathing is improving, but my nose is very dry and not producing mucous... Is this NORMAL? Should I be worried? The mucous is draining from the top of the nose, but not from the sides

James Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSC · Answer

Hi there, I think I would somewhat disagree with other posters. As someone trained in both Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, I do alot of nose procedures. Typically, within 2-3 weeks your nose should be feeling back to normal, the inside  that is. When we do a Rhinoplasty, sometimes we also do a septoplasty, this involves fixing the inside of your nose. I am sure you remember, the first few weeks, the inside of your nose was very crusty, some blood and you had some difficulty breathing. In the vast majority of people, after 3 weeks, if the surgery was successful and you took care of your nose it should feel great. If it is still very dry there are a few possibilities, one is that you still have a septal deviation. What happens is, the airflow into your nose is abnormal and it causes alot of dryness in the nose. Another concern is a septal perforation. Now, that is not the end of the world by any means but it can cause crusting, some mild bleeding and dryness in your nose at 3 months. I would recommend making sure your surgeon takes a good look in your nose. I typically recommend to my patients here in Ottawa, to apply some vaseline to their nose before bedtime (for moisture) as well as use salt water rinses  once or twice a day. But please, get checked because at 3 months, you should have a normally functioning nose (not the cosmetics, but inside). James P Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSCOtolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgeryFacial Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryUniversity of OttawaOttawa, Ontario, Canada

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

Don't panic, keep your mucosa humid and clean with nasal irrigation (saline that you can buy at any pharmacy).Regards

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Veronica mx,

Depending on the type of cosmetic rhinoplasty and airway
breathing surgery performed, it is very common to have dry mucous membranes
following surgery.  It is also common to
have excessive mucous dripping and even intermittent bleeding noses after
cosmetic rhinoplasty.

Generally, the dry mucous membranes do resolve, but it is
important to seek the advice of your operative rhinoplasty surgeon, as they are
in the best position to co-manage your concerns and symptoms.

Having been certified in both plastic surgery and
ear/nose/throat head/neck oncology, I have been performing cosmetic rhinoplasty
for over 20 years.  For more information,
please review the link below. I trust this information has been of some assistance and best
of luck.

Sincerely,

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

MUCUS?? NOSE DRY AFTER SURGERY.. 3 MONTHS POST -OP-

Answers (3)

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