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Will Exercises to Flatten out a Cartilage Graft in my Bridge Work?

asked 1 year ago by Todd_WA in Perth WA
Latest answer by Andrew Campbell, MD
Question viewed 893 times
Tags: male, hump, massage, results

I had a rhinoplasty 2 months ago to correct a "large roman nose", my surgeon put a cartilage graft on my bridge from behind my ear (i don't know why as i had the hump removed). Now it is visible and the bottom edges cast a shadow sometimes and it has created a small hump which makes my profile not straight as i comes out a little at the top. My surgeon gave me exercises to "massage" it 2x5 minutes a day to flatten it down. I was wondering if this will work and what i am to expect? thanks

13 answers to Will Exercises to Flatten out a Cartilage Graft in my Bridge Work?

Rhinoplasty takes TIME

I would recommend that you follow your surgeon's advice. There are significant changes that a nose goes through during the healing period, and that can take 6-12 months. Be patient. No matter what happens, I would not recommend any sort of revision until 12 months have gone by. Andrew C. Campbell, M.D. Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Andrew Campbell, MD
Milwaukee Facial Plastic Surgeon

Palpable graft in nose bridge

It is possible that with some partial graft resorptions and scar maturation, that you may experience some softening of the contours of the graft but that would largely be completed by 2 months after surgery. Give it 4-6 months before considering reomval

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Will Exercises to Flatten out a Cartilage Graft in my Bridge Work?

Sometimes grafts placed high on the nasal bridge can help make a hump look better, and this is a common technique in rhinoplasty. Unfortunately, these grafts can become visible in some patients and usually the ultimate solution is revision nose surgery after six months to one year.

Anand D. Patel, MD
Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.freshfaceaustin.com

Rhinoplasty exercises

It's impossible to tell you exactly what is going on without seeing you and examining you, however massage after rhinoplasty helps with the swelling. You likely still have some swelling 2 mo after your surgery. However, I'd recommend you follow your surgeon's instructions. You'd have to wait for several more months before considering revision rhinoplasty. I'd advise you keep an open communication with your surgeon. I'm sure he/she... more

Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Can nasal massage help flatten prominent cartilage graft?

It sounds like you may have had a radix graft during your surgery. It's hard to make a full assessment without seeing you in person, but I do feel that it's a bit earlier to consider revision surgery. Nasal exercises won't hurt matters in the meantime. I have personally found it possible to perform minor tweaks to radix grafts using a small hypodermic needle in the office. It has allowed me to shave off a slightly prominent cartilage edge without a formal surgery.... more

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Will Exercises Flatten out a Cartilage Graft in my Nose Bridge?

Regarding: "Will Exercises to Flatten out a Cartilage Graft in my Bridge Work? I had a rhinoplasty 2 months ago to correct a "large roman nose", my surgeon put a cartilage graft on my bridge from behind my ear (i don't know why as i had the hump removed). Now it is visible and the bottom edges cast a shadow sometimes and it has created a small hump which makes my profile not straight as i comes out a little at the top. My surgeon gave me exercises to "massage"... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Visible Cartilage Grafts After Rhinoplasty

If the edges of the the cartilage graft are indeed the problem, as you describe, then massage will not correct your problem. Sometime in the future you will most likely need a revision with removal of the graft. You stated you had a dorsal hump removed, so I am not quite certain why a dorsal onlay graft was placed. If further dorsal augmentation is needed I would suggest diced cartilage fascia grafts. These grafts are moldable up to three weeks postop and will not... more

Anthony Corrado, DO
Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgeon

Massage of cartilage

I think you can massage for an eternity, but the cartilage wil not flatten that way. You may need a revision.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Massage to flatten cartilage nose graft.

Massage will improve only the swelling around the graft and you will not be able to see the final result of the graft for 6-12 months. Then you will know if you will need a revision or not.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Will Exercises to Flatten out a Cartilage Graft in my Bridge Work?

Sounds like a warping of the graft. In my opinion massages will not improve only revisional surgery after at least 6 months. From MIAMI Dr. darryl J. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Massage to flatten a nasal cartilage graft

After two months it seems unlikely that the cartilage graft will shift in any meaningful way. As the surrounding skin softens visible cartilage grafts such as an on-lay on the bridge can become more apparent. Massage will not hurt the situation though my bet is that revision may be warranted after six to twelve months. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Massage after rhinoplasty

Since your surgery was only 2 months ago, non-surgical treatment is best at this time. Sometime cartilage can warp and massage may help. However, if after 6 to 12 months there is no difference, you may want to consider surgical revision. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Bump after rhinoplasty and dorsum

Cartilage is likely to partially resorb and I think that your surgeon is prudent to recommend observation and massage at this time. I would revisit the issue on interval visits of 3 months to notate progress.