Is It Necessary to Break the Nose to Fix Small Bump?

asked 2 years ago by sim016 in manchester
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 906 times
Tags: nose, broken nose, bump

I had my consultation with a surgeon about my Rhinoplasty. I only have a small bump but just a little longish nose. He said he would have to break the bone. But is it not just for when you have large humps that the nasal bone breaking is necessary? I am really freaked out. Is that necessary or avoidable? Please help me.

10 answers to Is It Necessary to Break the Nose to Fix Small Bump?

Most noses need to be broken when removing a hump

In most rhinoplasties, the nasal bones have to be broken or reset narrower after the bump is removed. A very small bump can be shaved down; however, it can leave the nose with a flattop open roof appearance, which is not natural. In the majority of cases, the nasal bones do need to be broken in a rhinoplasty when a hump is removed. Only a preexisting very narrow nasal bony vault would not require breaking the nasal bones.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Removing a Hump and the Need for Osteotomies (Surgically Breaking the Nose)

One of the most common reasons that patients seek rhinoplasty consultations is to learn about dorsal hump reduction. A dorsal hump is comprised of bone and cartilage. To remove the hump, the rhinoplasty surgeon files down the bone and trims the cartilage to the appropriate height to give the profile the desired contour. For an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon, this is a very straightforward procedure. For large humps it is necessary to surgically break the nasal bones (called osteotomies)... more

C. Spencer Cochran, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.rhinoplasty-usa.com

When to break the nose in rhinoplasty

If your bones are wide, you might need them broken to narrow them for the best result. Also, if you have a large bump, taking it off can leave a flat bridge called an "open roof" and won't look good unless the bones are narrowed. Even if you do need it, it isn't really a big deal for an experienced surgeon and the recovery is about the same just with a little more bruising. Maybe you need a few more consultations to get other opinions.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

A hump is not a hump

Sim, Removal of a small nasal hump may or may not need infracturing (breaking) of the nasal bones. It depends on the width and thickness of your bones, and the size of the hump. Sometimes I tell my patients that I will not know for sure until I actually remove the bump. Breaking the bones does cause more swelling and bruising, but the result is usually worth it when it is required. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Your nose needs breaking only if the 'Bump' change will be large.

The need to 'break' the nasal bones with hump removal depends on how large teh hump is and how much of a change you want. I think it is best to work out the desired changes to the nose and the final appearance before surgery by computer simulation. That's the only way to answer your question.

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and nasal bone infractures

When a person undegoes rhinoplasty and has a small dorsal hump or bump, usually it is required to in-fracture the bones so that the top of the nose does not appear to flat and wide. However, with small bumps, it may only require a little shaving down.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and Osteotomies...To Break or Not to Break, That is Your Question

Hi Sim, Whether to perform osteotomies (cutting the nasal bones) or not depends on many factors, including the width of your nose, and what else is being addressed. A small dorsal nasal hump can be removed without always having to "break the bones" (see web reference below). What is most important is you communicating with your rhinoplasty what bothers you, and what final result you would be satisfied with. Then it is up to your surgeon to let you know if that can be achieved,... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty may need to break the nose in a precise way

One of the most common questions in rhinoplasty is whether or not the nose will be broken to adjust the nasal shape. Patients tend to apply horrific images of this very common step, though most often the thin nasal bones are cut or perforated gently and molded into shape by pressure, and held by the nasal tapes and splint. Most often the break or cut is a 'green-stick' in nature and done in such a manner as to produce as little swelling or bruise as possible. As surgeons we call these cuts... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Osteotomies Essentail for Dorsal Hump Reduction

Even if the nose has a small bump the dorsum has to be chiselled and then it leaves a broad base. To make that narrow the lateral bones have to be broken and pushed together. It might seem an overkill but it is the only way to do it. Some times a very minor hump can be rasped down but only if it is 1 to 2mm. Regards

Tanveer Janjua, MD
Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty Surgery for Small Nasal Bump

A bump on the top of the nose is a very common reason for rhinoplasty. Most bumps are made of both bone and cartilage. Bumps come in various shapes and sizes. While some bumps may be reduced with minor rasping or shaving, other bumps need a chisel or powered instrument to correct. Some very large bumps even require more than one surgery to fix. Once a bump is removed, the nose is usually left with a secondary deformity called an open roof, where the nasal bones don't meet anymore in the... more