Rhinoplasty surgery involves changing the shape of the framework of the nose, including its bone and cartilage components. To do so, the skin must be lifted off of these structures so the work can be done. Whether this is done through an open or closed approach, detaching the skin is a critical part of the operation.
Once the skin is lifted, it will undergo significant swelling after surgery. In addition, it must reattach to the bone and cartilage to eventually show how the new nose looks. While the process of skin reattachment and the subsiding of swelling will eventually occur on its own, there are benefits to trying to control both of these processes in terms of the final aesthetic result. Unchecked swelling can make the nose look swollen for months which would be quite distressing to all patients. If the skin does not reattach well or excess scar forms between the skin and the underlying nasal framework, the change in the nasal shape may be masked and never seen fully.
All rhinoplasty surgeries involve taping with or without an overlying splint. The main purpose of this nasal dressing is compression of the skin, forcing it to stick back down as quick as possible. Compression helps decrease the amount of swelling that would normally occur as well as not allow fluid and eventual scar to excessively form between the skin and the underlying bone and cartilage. Their use is critical in rhinoplasty surgery to help the patient get the best result possible. The less swelling that is allowed to occur will also enable a patient to see the good changes that have been done to the nose sooner rather than later.
Contrary to popular perception, nasal dressings after rhinoplasty are not ‘holding the nose together’ per se. They are a means of compression to decrease swelling and help the skin redrape back over the altered framework of the nose. Most plastic surgeons will leave this on for one week after rhinoplasty surgery. Occasionally some plastic surgeons may use additional taping during the second week if there is a lot of swelling.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana