“What should I do to prevent an infection after plastic surgery?”
I am planning to undergo a plastic surgery for my nose. What is the after care required to prevent any form of infection post-surgery?
14 Answers
Follow your plastic surgeon's orders.
It is very uncommon to get an infection after nose surgery. What is important is to follow your surgeons instructions to avoid any complications. It is likely that you will take antibiotics. It is important that you do not stick anything in your nose after surgery until your surgeons instructs that it is ok to do so. If you smoke, you should definitely stop prior to and for several weeks after. If you have pets, you should keep them away from your face after surgery for several weeks. And in general, you should keep your face clean with a gentle facial cleanser.
Generally patients are put on antibiotic prior to their surgery to prevent infection...
You should absolutely speak with your board certified plastic surgeon about this who is doing the surgery for their protocol. Generally speaking you will be prescribed an antibiotic and have dressings on your nose. Aftercare once removed may include coating the sutured areas with bacitracin.
Follow the directions of your plastic surgeon and ask if he or she advises antibiotics. before, during or after the surgery. There are differing opinions about this. I have always been an advocate of administering antibiotics prophylactically.
This depends on the extensiveness of the surgery. I always put my patients on antibiotics after nasal surgery. I have to treat each patient individually. You can see my nasal results at Fairbanksmd.com.
The most important factor is the surgical technique and a water seal wound. From your part, avoiding scratching with your fingers, keep it clean and applying coconut oil or antibacterial cream are contributing factors to prevent An infection. Early identification of the infection is key ( redness tenderness ).
Fortunately, infections after nasal surgery are rare. This is at least in part because the blood supply to the nose is very robust. If you follow your surgeon's instructions carefully you should have little problem with infection.
The risk of infection after nasal surgery is dependent on several factors - whether you are a carrier of certain harmful bacteria, whether the nose has been operated previously (scar tissue doesn't have as rich a blood supply as virgin tissue), and whether or not you smoke, since smoking restricts blood flow into the nose and increases the risk of infection. Your general state of nutrition and health also are factors. As always, follow your surgeons instructions carefully.
The risk of infection after nasal surgery is dependent on several factors - whether you are a carrier of certain harmful bacteria, whether the nose has been operated previously (scar tissue doesn't have as rich a blood supply as virgin tissue), and whether or not you smoke, since smoking restricts blood flow into the nose and increases the risk of infection. Your general state of nutrition and health also are factors. As always, follow your surgeons instructions carefully.
Ask your Surgeon.
You should follow the pre operative directions of your surgeon.
Infection after rhinoplasty is rare; antibiotics are given, especially if packing is used.
William A. Stefani, MD
William A. Stefani, MD
In general, infections after facial and nose surgeries are very rare and, when they occur, are not usually a serious health issue (in my experience of over one thousand cases, less than a handful have occurred beyond some simple suture infection). My usual preventive precaution is to apply mucopyrocin ointment in both ear canals and nostrils twice a day for 3 days prior to surgery (as one might harbor without symptoms strains of staph aureus and mersa). Face and hairs are washed with shampoo and chlorexidine for 2 days prior to surgery. Antibiotics are usually injected at the beginning of surgery and are rarely given afterwards unless some implants or grafts are performed. Nasal saline spray to rinse the nasal passages followed with application of same antibiotic ointment should help as well as keeping the nasal passages clean and reducing the inflammation after surgery. Active acne and/or viral outbreak should be controlled prior to surgery.
Hi,
Thanks for your question! You surgeon will be giving you detailed instructions on how to take care of your nose after surgery. Follow their instructions carefully, as this will help prevent infection and give you the best possible outcome! This is a short list of some of the things I discuss with my patients prior to a rhinoplasty:
-Sleep with your head elevated about 45 degrees (2-3 pillows) for the first week
-Ice under your eyes and on the bridge of your nose for the first 3 days - this will help the bruising/swelling
-Take your antibiotics as prescribed, take pain medication as needed
-Use a nasal saline rinse 3 times a day for one month - this will help clean out any crusting or scabbing, and will keep the nasal passages clear
-If there are any visible incisions, keep them clean with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, bacitracin, etc.)
-Do not blow or pick your nose for the first 3 days
-No heavy lifting (greater than 10lbs) or strenuous exercise for one week
-Avoid temperature extremes (saunas, steam showers, etc.) for the first week
-Keep the cast/splints on - the surgeon will remove it at your follow-up appointment the following week
Monica Kieu, DO
Thanks for your question! You surgeon will be giving you detailed instructions on how to take care of your nose after surgery. Follow their instructions carefully, as this will help prevent infection and give you the best possible outcome! This is a short list of some of the things I discuss with my patients prior to a rhinoplasty:
-Sleep with your head elevated about 45 degrees (2-3 pillows) for the first week
-Ice under your eyes and on the bridge of your nose for the first 3 days - this will help the bruising/swelling
-Take your antibiotics as prescribed, take pain medication as needed
-Use a nasal saline rinse 3 times a day for one month - this will help clean out any crusting or scabbing, and will keep the nasal passages clear
-If there are any visible incisions, keep them clean with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, bacitracin, etc.)
-Do not blow or pick your nose for the first 3 days
-No heavy lifting (greater than 10lbs) or strenuous exercise for one week
-Avoid temperature extremes (saunas, steam showers, etc.) for the first week
-Keep the cast/splints on - the surgeon will remove it at your follow-up appointment the following week
Monica Kieu, DO
The infection rate following nasal surgery is low. Most patients get prepped or intraop antibiotics usually followed by postoperative antibiotics. Keeping your incision clean and using topical antibiotics can also help lower your risk. Since each surgery is unique, ask your surgeon what additional measures you can take.
