Why Would I Have to Wear Splints at Night for 4 to 6 Weeks After Rhinoplasty?

4-6 weeks IS a long time to be wearing any internal or external splints. In most cases, there is no need for these beyond the first week post-surgery. The one exception would be if there is a high risk of contraction of the nostril but this would typically only result following trauma, cancer surgery or major reconstructive procedure. I hope this information is helpful.

Dear Bbangelle,

Thank you for your question.  Every surgeon has different protocols.  He is probably trying to protect it from you accidentally sleeping on your nose at night.  I have patients sleep in a recliner as long as they can tolerate to avoid accidently turning onto their nose.  The nasal bones are still soft during this period, and could be bent.

Best Wishes, 

Pablo PRichard, MD

After Rhinoplasty, Internal Splints or splints in the nostrils are placed for 5-7 days.  I have kept it in place for longer duration in trauma patients with multiple nasal bone fragments or complex bone grafts, cancer reconstructions, and patients with constrictions of the nostrils.  External Splints or splints on top of the nose may be be placed for 4-6 weeks to control edema and/or to protect the nose against patient's movement during the sleep.  I highly recommend that you consult with your Plastic Surgeon again.  Best Wishes!

 We only use splints when there is adhesions inside the nose that have been created from prior surgery. When we do use the splints only for this unique application,  they are left in for one week. There  is no other reason to leave splints or packing inside the nose for that length of time for a primary rhinoplasty.

You need to talk to your surgeon again to see what exactly he/she is doing.  I only leave surgical splints, which are sutured in, for one week after surgery and nothing after that.  We do have patients tape there external nose after treatment for 4-6 weeks at night.  Donald R. Nunn MD  Atlanta Plastic Surgeon