Drainage tube use for the reduction of postoperative ecchymosis in rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative healing after rhinoplasty can have a negative impact on patient quality of life. OBJECTIVES: In our study, we aimed to reduce postoperative edema and ecchymosis by applying a minidrain system. We evaluated this intervention's benefit on postoperative morbidity by observing the patient with left and right sides, intervention side and control side respectively. METHODS: All surgeries were performed using a piezo device with an open technique septorhinoplasty. We only used a left-sided minidrain system through the osteotomy lines just in front of the piriform aperture for all patients with no other intervention on the right side of the same patient. RESULTS: Use of a drain on the left side was associated with a statistically significant decrease in ecchymosis at postoperative day 7 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found that using a minidrain system through internal osteotomy lines was effective in reducing the amount of ecchymosis by day seven after surgery.