After Rhinoplasty, the nasal region almost seems to want to be carefully preserved like a freshly planted flower garden. The newly healing tissues prepare to breathe more easily thanks to gentle and proper cleaning methods. In this process, there are many details—from the products used to the frequency of cleaning—and all are important for healthy healing.
How is Nasal Cleaning Performed Safely After Rhinoplasty?
Individuals who have undergone Rhinoplasty may encounter blood clots or dried mucus inside and around the nose immediately after the operation. This is a natural result of the surgery. The most important point is that the cleaning should be done gently to allow the delicate tissues inside the nose to adapt to their new shape.
Safe cleaning requires the same care as when cleaning delicate porcelain. Sudden and harsh movements can damage tissues that are still in the process of healing. To avoid this, soft touches and appropriate materials are preferred. For example, if using a cotton swab (earbud), it is recommended that only the cotton tip is gently inserted without applying pressure. Otherwise, a slight irritation may occur inside the nose or the sutures may be damaged.
How Do Saline Sprays or Rinses Help After Rhinoplasty?
Saline (physiological serum) sprays deliver the soothing and cleansing effect of water, much like the ocean, to your nose. The dryness and crusting that occur inside the nose soften and become easier to clean thanks to saline. Whether they are ready-made sprays sold in pharmacies or specially prepared rinse solutions at home, one should opt for an isotonic or slightly hypertonic solution.
Another advantage of saline is that while cleaning the mucus layer, it also creates a slight moisturizing effect inside the nose. This moisture supports easier healing of the wounds. Additionally, the microbe-limiting effect of saline can protect the nose against infectious agents. Regular and measured use can also slightly reduce post-operative swelling, providing a more comfortable breathing experience.
Why is Hydrogen Peroxide Recommended After Rhinoplasty?
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a solution known for its antiseptic power and its ability to help alleviate crusting. Especially when used in low concentrations (for example, at 3% or even more diluted), it helps to soften the crusts that form inside the nose. Just like a detergent that lifts and foams the dirt on a surface, hydrogen peroxide can slightly loosen dried blood or crusts, making cleaning easier.
However, it is important not to overdo the dosage and to avoid applying it as if scrubbing with a dry cloth. This is because hydrogen peroxide, if used incorrectly or too frequently, can irritate the skin and mucosa. Therefore, it is generally recommended to use only a small amount—just one or two drops on a cotton swab—and then clean gently. This application can be compared to using lukewarm water to melt a thin layer of ice: it gradually softens and dissolves the crusts.
How Should Cotton Swabs Be Used After Rhinoplasty?
Cotton swabs are among the most popular tools for detailed cleaning. However, when using these “small but effective” swabs, it is advisable to handle them as carefully as one would clean a valuable painting. The crusts or dried secretions that accumulate at the very entrance of the nostrils can be easily cleaned with a slightly moistened cotton tip. The important point here is that the swab should not be inserted too deeply into the nose.
For example, after the cotton tip of an ear swab is moistened with saline or a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, it can be slowly moved around the nostril. In this process, it is important to avoid applying pressure and to clean gently in circular motions outward. Otherwise, unwanted trauma may occur to the healing tissues. At this stage, one might recall the analogy of “being as gentle as when caressing a kitten.”
What is the Role of Antibiotic Ointment After Rhinoplasty?
After the surgery, antibiotic ointments are frequently mentioned as a means to reduce microbial growth inside or around the nose. These ointments form a thin protective layer that acts as a barrier against bacterial colonization, thereby aiming to protect the delicate tissue surface. However, it is important not to think of them as a “cure-all” for every problem; because unnecessary or incorrect use of antibiotics can pave the way for the emergence of resistant bacteria.
These topically applied ointments are sometimes used not alone but in conjunction with nasal sprays or other cleaning methods. For example, after the crusts are softened and cleaned with saline, a very thin layer of antibiotic ointment may be applied. Much like the final touch added when preparing a beautiful meal, it helps protect the wound.
How Important is it to Avoid Inserting Objects into the Nose After Rhinoplasty?
After Rhinoplasty, the nose is like a work of art that has just emerged from a delicate restoration. Therefore, inserting foreign objects such as toothpicks, cotton balls, or similar items into the nose can disrupt the healing process. The cartilage and bone structures that have not yet fully solidified, along with the sensitive soft tissues, can be damaged by even the slightest impact or pressure.
Additionally, every object inserted into the nose carries a risk of infection. A minor irritation inside the nose can suddenly escalate and lead to more serious problems, which is undesirable. Therefore, even when cleaning areas near the outside of the nose, extreme care must be taken; the inner parts of the nose should never be interfered with using any hard or sharp instrument, and even small touches should be done gently.
When Should Nasal Irrigation Be Started for Effective Cleaning After Rhinoplasty?
Nasal irrigation means washing the inside of the nose and can be particularly effective in clearing out secretions that accumulate after surgery. Generally, it is considered that nasal irrigation can be comfortably started after the sutures or splints (small plastic supports) placed inside the nose have been removed or firmly secured. Some experts advocate that nasal irrigation is beneficial towards the end of the first week.
This procedure is performed by slowly passing saline through the nasal cavity using a bottle or the effect of gravity. The important thing is not to use water with too much pressure, as if watering a garden with a large hose. On the contrary, the water should flow gently and clean softly. Nasal irrigation, when performed at the appropriate time with the correct technique, reduces crusting, clears the airway, and helps the nose “take a comfortable breath.”
How is Crusting Around the Nose Managed After Rhinoplasty?
The crusting that develops around the nose can be thought of as small hard spots that need to be removed with a touch as light as a bird’s feather. Dried blood or fluids that accumulate after surgery form a crust when exposed to air. The most frequently used method to clean these crusts is to soften them with warm saline and then wipe them off with a cotton swab or a soft gauze pad.
To avoid irritating the skin, it is recommended to clean with gentle touches rather than rubbing or applying pressure. The crusts should not be forcibly pulled off; otherwise, the fresh tissue beneath a small crust may be damaged. In this process, behaving slowly and patiently, as if peeling the shell of a boiled egg, greatly contributes to the healing of the nasal area.
What Should Be Taken into Consideration During Nasal Cleaning After Rhinoplasty?
The fundamental point to be careful about during cleaning is to never force the nose. Avoiding blowing the nose for a period after the surgery reduces the risk of bleeding and protects the healing tissues. Instead, it is considered healthier to expel the accumulated material inside using saline sprays or gentle nasal irrigation methods.
It is also critical that your hands are clean before cleaning. Since the tissues inside the nose are more sensitive than usual, microbial entry should be minimized. In addition, avoiding contact with makeup products or harsh tissues is important so as not to put additional strain on the skin after surgery. During the cleaning process, adopting an approach as gentle as “wiping glass with cotton” helps preserve the outcome achieved from the surgery.
How Do the Surgeons’ Special Instructions Affect Nasal Cleaning After Rhinoplasty?
Every nose’s structure and every surgical technique is different. Therefore, in clinics where patients undergoing Rhinoplasty are followed, personalized guidance is provided. In some cases, saline spray is used at specific intervals, while in another, antibiotic ointment may become more important. Some noses may tend to crust more, while others may not show much residue when viewed externally.
For example, the time when supports inserted into the nose are removed, the type of sutures, or the individual’s skin type may alter the cleaning regimen. These details are shaped according to the scope of the Rhinoplasty and the person’s bodily responses. Ultimately, the fundamental aim is the same: to preserve the positive outcome achieved from the surgery and to ensure a healthy healing process. All methods are intended to allow the nose to experience its “second spring” in the most comfortable way possible.
Op. Dr. Yunus Kaplan was born in Iskenderun in 1979. He graduated from the Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine in 2001 and completed his specialization in Otolaryngology in 2009. He has worked at various public and private hospitals. Since 2020, he has been accepting patients in the field of rhinoplasty at his private clinic in Istanbul Nişantaşı.
