Didn’t you know tape on your nose is this summer’s fashion trend?
Although not all surgeons will have you tape your nose, some surgeons feel this helps in healing. Check with your surgeon before trying anything that he or she did not specifically tell you to do.
The pressure of the tape presses out the swelling. In addition, the taping helps the skin envelope conform to the newer, often smaller nose structure . Some patients tolerate taping very well for long periods, others can’t. If you cannot tolerate taping, the signs are usually irritation, redness, and bumps from the tape. Stop taping in this case and discuss with your doctor any alternatives to taping.
Typically, Dr. Shah recommends taping only at night. Begin immediately after the splint is removed. Do this for at least 6 weeks. In some cases, you may notice that your nose may need a prolonged amount of taping.
The reason for tape on your nose in the first place is for the nose to encourage the skin to shrink wrap down onto the underlying bone and cartilage. This is particularly helpful in rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty patients who have medium to moderately thick skin. These patients have skin that takes longer than average to shrink down following surgery. Their skin is also more prone to forming dense scar tissue between the bone/cartilage skeletal structure and the skin. If this occurs before the skin actually shrink wraps down, unwanted excess scar tissue will be laid down and inhibit any further shrink wrapping. In some cases, the unwanted scar tissue will contribute to development of prominent contours and bumps that can distract from the final rhinoplasty result. Taping the nasal skin can minimize the likelihood of these undesirable occurrences.
Once started, it is best to continue taping for several months in order to gain maximal benefit from this exercise. Patients are recommended to tape the nose prior to going to bed every night. The tape can then be removed in the morning before starting your normal daily routine. If you are able to keep the tape on the nose longer than just overnight, all the better.
Make sure you clarify with your rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty surgeon that taping the nose is, indeed, indicated in your case. In addition, your rhinoplasty surgeon should direct you specifically on his or her desired technique for taping the nose.