ASJ Aesthetic Surgery Journal · 2011

Packing and postoperative rhinoplasty management: a survey report

Kelley BP, Koshy J, Hatef D, Hollier LH Jr, Stal S.

What this paper says

In a survey of 126 US aesthetic surgeons, about one third still pack the nose after rhinoplasty, and surgeons doing more rhinoplasties were less likely to pack and reported fewer tip deformities.

Overview

Care after rhinoplasty varies widely: some surgeons stuff the nose with packing, others do not; splints, ice and drugs for bruising differ too. The authors surveyed members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to record current habits and to relate them to training, practice type and complications.

Sections of note

Online survey sent to 1,550 members; 126 responses (8.1%).
86% of respondents in private practice; 83% trained in plastic surgery.
About 33% regularly use nasal packing after rhinoplasty.
Surgeons performing 21 or more rhinoplasties per year were less likely to pack (P = .06).
Higher-volume surgeons more often added a second treatment, such as steroids or arnica, to ice packs against bruising (P = .03).
Lower-volume surgeons reported more frequent postoperative nasal tip deformities (P = .01).
Statistics by chi-squared test.

What it means for a patient

There is no single standard for aftercare; whether the nose is packed depends on the surgeon.
Busier rhinoplasty surgeons in this sample packed less often and reported fewer tip problems.
Only 8.1% of those surveyed replied, so the results may not represent all surgeons; complication figures are self-reported.

Why this paper matters

Packing is uncomfortable and its benefit after rhinoplasty is debated. This survey documents a downward trend among high-volume surgeons. It cannot say whether packing itself changes outcomes, and it covers one society's members only.

Terms

Nasal packing: gauze or sponge placed inside the nostrils after surgery to control bleeding and support the septum.
Splint: an external or internal support worn for about a week to hold the reshaped nose.
Ecchymosis: bruising.
Arnica: a herbal preparation used by some surgeons to reduce bruising.
Chi-squared test: a statistical test for whether two categories are linked.
P value: the probability a result arose by chance; values below .05 are usually called significant.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-08; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Postoperative management following rhinoplasty varies greatly among aesthetic surgeons. Few studies have addressed practice trends in postoperative rhinoplasty care or questioned the frequency of packing and splinting. Many conventional postoperative techniques remain controversial (eg, packing). Objective: To…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.