Is it necessary to pack the nose with cotton after rhinoplasty surgery?

We are Obje Plastic Surgery, where we find the ideal nose line that suits you.

Among plastic surgeries, the one that patients worry about and fear repeatedly is nose surgery.

Even when patients are dissatisfied with the shape of their nose, there are many reasons why they still hesitate until the end when considering rhinoplasty.

✔️ Worry about possible side effects ✔️ A long recovery period before returning to daily life ✔️ Bruising or swelling

Most people probably find it hard to decide whether to have surgery for these three reasons.

Among them, some people see posts saying that cotton must be placed after rhinoplasty and worry that daily life will be inconvenient, so they become frightened right away.

"I heard it is hard to breathe if cotton is placed after nose surgery. Can I skip it?" "I’m worried it will feel too stuffy and be too hard to bear."

In fact, when I consult patients about nose surgery, many of them feel burdened by the idea of using cotton.

Normally, even if we pinch our nose for just one minute, breathing becomes so difficult that it feels unbearable. From the patient’s point of view, having to keep the nose packed with cotton for an average of two days after surgery is understandably a burden.

Then why is cotton used after rhinoplasty?

Preventing hematoma caused by bleeding After rhinoplasty, depending on the situation, if blood pressure rises or the patient moves, a small amount of bleeding may occur.

So cotton is inserted to stop the bleeding.

On the outside, a cast and taping are applied, and on the inside, the cotton expands and pressure is applied both inside and outside, which minimizes the amount of bleeding and reduces the chance of blood pooling.

The biggest problem when blood pools is inflammation.

Because blood creates an environment where inflammation can develop easily, the likelihood of inflammation increases significantly, and this in turn raises the chance of later contracture as well.

That is why cotton is often used for the purpose of preventing bleeding and achieving hemostasis.

Does Obje Plastic Surgery also use cotton?

At our clinic, we do not use cotton separately after nose surgery.

The first reason is that there is no major difference after surgery, and the second is that we can perform hemostasis more carefully.

Even without cotton, the blood only seeps out slightly, so we do not think it is necessary to use it to the point of placing a heavy burden on patients.

Also, since there is a sense that blood should not be coming out in this situation, not using cotton means we have no choice but to pay even more attention when stopping the bleeding.

For example, if we assume cotton is being used, even if bleeding occurs during surgery, there can be cases where the surgery is finished quickly with the thought, "We can just block it with cotton."

At our clinic, we operate with the mindset that we will not use cotton from the start, and we finish the surgery in a state where there is no bleeding.

Of course, we do insert something like a sheet to secure the septal area, but a sheet is different from cotton.

In particular, when we do not make the nasal tip overly pronounced and instead aim for a natural result, there are cases where surgery is performed only with ear cartilage. In those cases, neither a sheet nor cotton is used.

Through this method, we reduce the burden and discomfort for patients, so please do not be too afraid. Visit us with a relaxed mind and receive a consultation.

In addition, before having rhinoplasty, there is something I would like you to know.

What matters more than the shape of the nose is its "proportion."

Most patients only tell us about the nose shape they want,

but because the lengths of the upper face, lower face, and middle face all need to be balanced, matching the proportions comes first.

At our clinic, we design the nose while considering the overall facial proportions of each patient, and we do not recommend surgery unconditionally just because the patient wants it.

And not only in plastic surgery, but in all surgeries, there is always some risk.

That is why the decision about surgery must be made carefully.

During consultation, we also believe it is our role to firmly discourage people for whom rhinoplasty should not be performed, or who do not really need it.

If you are currently considering surgery because of stress about your nose, please visit us with a calm mind, have a consultation, and then make a careful decision.

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