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Nose Swelling from Being Broken or Septoplasty?

asked 3 years ago by eskimo129 in Illinois, USA
Latest answer by Anil R. Shah, MD
Question viewed 4,744 times

Three months ago, I got punched in the nose and fractured it in 2 places. I had a deviated septum and could not breathe out of my left nostril, so I had a septoplasty to repair it.

Today, my nose is still larger than it used to be, especially the bridge of the nose, which is now wider. I talked to my doctor who performed the septoplasty, and he said it could be bigger because of scar tissue in the nose. I was wondering, is my nose is big because it's still swollen from being broken, or from the surgery? Will my nose be permanently larger?

8 answers to Nose Swelling from Being Broken or Septoplasty?

Nose will probably go back to the original size

Often, when patients have a septoplasty, the doctor breaks and resets the bone. If this is what he did, your nose will be swollen for 6-12 months. If he did not do this, the nose swelling usually will be gone after 3 months from the time of surgery.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Nose Swelling After Septoplasty

Typically, septoplasty causes little to no external swelling to the nose. If the nasal bones were broken traumatically and three months have passed, it is likely that the nasal bones are wider than they were preoperatively. Discuss your case with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon.

Anil R. Shah, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Broken Nose Surgery and Treatment

A broken nose may contain a fracture of the nasal bones or a fracture of the septum. The widening of the nose may be a result of residual swelling or from a splaying or fracture of the nasal bone support .

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Septoplasty will not repair a broken nose

Septoplasty will not repair a broken nose; it will only repair a fractured septum or a deviated septum to improve airflow dynamics through the nose. To reduce the size of a larger and crooked nose after a fracture it has to undergo an open reduction nasal fracture, which is a resetting of the nasal bones and removal of the scar tissue. There is a callous formation that occurs across the top of the nose, usually where the bones meet the junction of the cartilage on the bridge, and this... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Rhinoplasty swelling

The septoplasty treats the septum only. This is usually performed for deviations and to improve breathing. The broad dorsum from a fractured nose may be from the bones being wide. At three months, most swelling will have subsided. If it is too wide for your tastes, then you probably need a corrective rhinoplasty.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Septoplasty has little to do with external shape

Septoplasty has little to do with external shape. The damaged bone and swelling under the skin have much more to do with widening of the nose. You should reconsult with your doctor about that and consider a rhinoplasty.

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Evaluation for another nose surgery is necessary

If you sustained enough force to fracture your septum, then you also had enough force to displace your nasal bones. There is always some thickening if the bones were fractured, especially if they were in small pieces. Your soft tissue and skin hold these small pieces of bone together while they heal. In another 6 - 9 months, your external nasal shape should be re-evaluated and then it may be determined if an external Rhinoplasty will be needed to restore your nasal contour and shape.... more

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Nose Swelling 3 Months After Septoplasty Following Nasal Fracture

Hi Eskimo, At 3 months after septoplasty most swelling should have resolved. Septoplasty alone should not cause noticeable permanent external swelling of the nose. Wait another 3 months, if still widened at the bridge of your nose, revisit your surgeon. Sometimes when the nasal bones are fractured there is splaying of the bones laterally. If that is the case, and it troubles you cosmetically, then osteotomies of the nasal bones will narrow the upper 1/3 of your nose. Your nose is... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

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