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Will Columella Stiffness Resolve After Rhinoplasty?

asked 1 year ago by SandraB in Austin, TX
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 882 times
Tags: 6 months post-op, columella, stiffness

I had an open primary Rhinoplasty 6 mos. ago, and my tip is still pretty stiff and swollen. My ps placed a strut graft in my columella, narrowed my nose and removed a bone spur, which was blocking my airway. He said, this will all soften with time and that my columella will eventually return to normal. Is this really the case? It's been 6 mos. and no change! I'm afraid that my columella/tip will remain firm and swollen looking. I had two steroid shots because of thick skin!

19 answers to Will Columella Stiffness Resolve After Rhinoplasty?

Stiffness after Rhinoplasty

It is possible you still have temporary residual swelling that will resolve over the next several months. This is more common when grafts are placed in thick-skinned tips . Be patient and continue to consult with your surgeon.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Columellar issues after Rhinoplasty

Open Rhinoplasty creates more stiness in the columellar area because the skin in this area is elevated as part of the Rhinoplasty. The lymphatic vessels hook up at 6 months post op which should speed along the softening in this area.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tip stiffness after rhinoplasty

The tip will be stiff for a while due to the skin swelling, but the columellar strut can also create some stiffness. This should settle out with time but may take a year or so after surgery. The strut is there to help prevent excessive loss of of tip support after surgery.

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Will Columella Stiffness Resolve After Rhinoplasty?

Be patient. It takes months to years for grafts to soften. Please don't expect things to return exactly the same as before, afterall, the grafts were placed to add structure and support (remember, this is a good thing).

Anand D. Patel, MD
Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.freshfaceaustin.com

Swelling After Rhinoplasty

Swelling after an open rhinoplasty can take a year or even longer to completely resolve. What you describe could certainly be swelling or may be the columellar strut. For now, I would agree that waiting is a good option and see how things turn out at about a year after surgery.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Columella soften?

It's really hard to predict when the swelling will go down. However, i'd give it some time. The function of the strut is to make the tip more stiff - so if it was a thick piece, it will probably not get much softer. Only your surgeon knows what he did specifically in your surgery. I'd recommend keeping in close contact with him/her so you can get all your questions and concerns answered. Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.

Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and columella stiffness

It is not unusual, following a rhinoplasty, to experience nasal tip and columella swelling and stiffness for one or even two years following the surgery. this is especially true if one has had a cartilage graft placed. This should gradually improve, but it is going to take more time.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD
San Jose Plastic Surgeon

Stiff or Firm Nose after Rhinoplasty Surgery

Hi SandraB, The nose typically feels stiff or firm after rhinoplasty surgery, mostly from swelling. Patients who have an open rhinoplasty with an incision in the columella (skin between the nostrils) generally have more stiffness as compared to patients who have closed or endonasal rhinoplasty. Other factors that contribute to nasal tissue stiffness include cartilage grafts and type of cartilage. Rib cartilage used in rhinoplasty is obvious by the way the nose feels, as it's... more

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Stiffness of tip and columella after rhinoplasty usually resolves.

After grafting a columella, you can expect stiffness for 1-2 years. Some patient soften sooner and some later. It may always be more stiff than is was prior to surgery. Swelling is the same story. Even is the graft was stiff a year from now, I would typically not recommend removing it. An open or structure rhinoplasty involves creating a stable strong structure that will last for your life. The is a different philosophy that a reduction type procedure... more

Stephen J Ronan, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Nasal tip stiffness will improve but likely not completely resolve following rhinoplasty

Nasal tip stiffness will improve but likely not completely resolve following rhinoplasty. Your Facial Plastic Surgeon will often place a robust columella strut to prevent drooping of the tip following surgery. This cartilage survives for the long-term and can result in a tip that is stronger and more rigid than before surgery. Ths can be compounded by the numbness that patients experience following external rhinoplasty which can last up to 12 months. Stephen Weber, M.D., Ph.D., Facial... more

Stephen Weber, MD
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.lonetreefacial.com

Tip Stiffness after Rhinoplasty

In most cases after rhinoplasty your nose is stiffer and stronger than before surgery due to the grafts that give your nose support and shape. Most surgeons wait until one year after surgery before analyzing the final result so at six months, you should not be worried. Thick skin does take longer to resolve tip edema and the steroid shots you received should help. Be patient for the next 6 months to allow your body to heal.

Kristin Egan, MD
Manhattan Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Columella Stiffness

The columella will not return to its pre-surgical feel. The reason the graft initially was placed was to add support and stiffness to the nasal tip. Over time, the tip does soften a bit. If you are unhappy with having such a stiff tip, there are some very simple ways to fix this problem. Have a chat with your surgeon and discuss some of these options.

Joseph Campanelli, MD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

Stiff Tip After Rhinoplasty

It is not unusual to have a stiff nasal tip and columella 6 months after rhinoplasty. Placement of columella strut enhances postoperative swelling and may prolong firmness in the area. While the upper nose skin can be soft and mobile in a few months, it can take a year or two for the skin to get to its ultimate softness in the lower part of the nose. This is different than a palpable strut. If you are feeling the strut, this will not improve without surgery. Be certain to check in with... more

Joseph Mele, MD
Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon

Tip stiffness after a columellar graft

The softness in the tip will return unless grafting has been placed where it is visible. The columellar strut is designed to help adjust the support and projection of the tip. Depending on how it is shaped, the columella can be wider and stiffer than before. If it does not soften in say, six more months it may need to be revised or removed altogether. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Columellar stiffness with a cartIlage strut after rhinoPlasty.

It depends on how it was done as to how fast it will soften. if it does not change in afew months you should see an experienced revision rhinoplasty surgeon:

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Will Columella Stiffness Resolve After Rhinoplasty?

With columella cartilage graft also known as strut graft, there will be some stiffness which is permanent. This graft maintain the position of the lower part of nose intact thus avoiding columella show.

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Columellar Strut

I agree with the other doctors as well. Swelling in this area is notorious for taking its time. That being said, though, a strut may always feel a bit stiffer than it did before any surgery. Since the strut is typically from septal cartilage it wont bend as easily, which is the idea. I would give it 6 more months and see how it goes.

C. Coleman Brown, MD
Bethesda Plastic Surgeon

Will Columella Stiffness Resolve After Rhinoplasty?

You will have to wait as you still have swelling. If the stiffness is from swelling it should soften up. However; you have a strut graft and this may cause the stiffness as well depending on the size and location. I agree with waiting for 6 months,if at that time there is no improvement the graft may need to be repositioned or removed. Michel Siegel, MD

Michel Siegel, MD
Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

houstonfaces.com

Rhinoplasty

Sometimes it can take up to a year or longer for the tip to soften up and feel normal again especially if you have thick skin. I would continue to be patient for now.