What Is a Nasal Splint?

Dr. Hamidreza Hosnani

ENT Specialist | Rhinoplasty Surgeon in Tehran | Nose Surgery Specialist

First Week After Surgery

Recovery Period: The First Week ♦ Nasal Splint ♦ Nutrition After Rhinoplasty ♦ Post-operative Tips ♦ Nasal Dressing/Bandage ♦ Sneezing After Rhinoplasty ♦ Nasal Tampon (Packing) ♦ Blowing the Nose ♦ Cleaning the Nose ♦ Sleeping Position ♦ Rhinoplasty Stitches/Sutures ♦ Bathing ♦ Taping ♦ Post-operative Medications ♦ Nasal Irrigation (Washing) ♦ Nasal Injection ♦ Nose Massage ♦ Laughing and Crying ♦ Wearing Glasses After Rhinoplasty ♦ Yawning ♦ Traveling After Rhinoplasty ♦

After rhinoplasty, a plastic splint is placed on your nose for one week to support the nasal cartilage and bones and to protect the new nasal structure. This plastic support is also called a nasal cast or nasal splint.

A Nasal Splint or Nasal Cast Is Placed on Your Nose for One Week to Protect It After Surgery

A nasal splint, sometimes called a nasal cast, is a plastic support placed on the nose after rhinoplasty. It protects the newly shaped nose and helps keep the nasal bones and cartilage stable during the early healing period.
The nasal splint is placed on the nose immediately after the rhinoplasty procedure and is usually removed about one week after the surgery.

After rhinoplasty, the nasal splint is usually secured on the nose using special medical tapes. First, tape is applied to the patient’s nose in layers to help reduce swelling and allow the skin to settle better over the new nasal framework. Then the splint is placed on the nose and fixed with several wide strips of tape from both sides and over the top. These tapes prevent the splint from moving and keep it firmly attached to the nose. In some cases, molded thermoplastic splints are softened with heat and shaped precisely to the patient’s nasal form, providing greater strength and stability. In this way, the splint protects the nose properly until it is removed by the surgeon.

During this week, it is important to make sure that the nasal splint does not get wet. If the splint becomes wet, it may loosen and this could potentially affect the surgical outcome. If the splint gets wet, the skin of the nose may also become itchy or irritated, making it uncomfortable to wear the splint during the healing period. In addition, a wet splint may detach from the nose before the week is over.

When cleaning your face during the first week after rhinoplasty, be careful not to wet the nasal splint. Otherwise, it may cause skin irritation and discomfort during that week.

What Should I Do Before Coming to Have the Splint Removed?

As mentioned earlier, when the splint becomes wet it loosens slightly. For this reason, it is recommended that on the seventh day, a few hours before your appointment, you take a full shower so the splint becomes completely wet.
Do not try to remove or adjust the nasal splint yourself. Simply take a normal shower, shampoo your hair, and wash your head and body as you usually would. This helps the splint loosen gently from the skin so that removing it at the clinic will be easier and more comfortable.

When Is the Nasal Splint Removed?

The nasal splint is usually removed about one week after rhinoplasty. On this day, you should visit the doctor's office so the splint can be removed and the nasal stitches can be taken out.
The removal of the nasal splint and stitches is performed by Dr. Hashemi’s trained staff at the clinic.

Removal of the nasal splint is performed one week after surgery by Dr. Hosnani’s trained staff.

Nasal Sutures and Splint Are Removed After One Week

After the splint is removed and the stitches are taken out, you will be given a mirror to see your nose. You will be able to see an early version of the final result, but keep in mind that the nose is still swollen and its appearance will continue to improve as the swelling gradually subsides.

One Week After Surgery, the Patient Looks at the Result in a Mirror; Esmeralda’s Nose Resembled That of Her Favorite Actress