Removing Nose Bump Without Breaking the Nose?

If you have a bump on your nose, just filing it down might work, if the nose is very narrow. But more often than not, just filing the bump will leave you with a flatter bump in the side-view, but a very broad bridge in the front view. Because of this I almost always (more than 95% of the time) break the nose as well, so that I can bring in the sides of the nose closer together and make the bridge narrower and nicer from the front. 
Try not to worry too much about the nose being broken. If it is done carefully, by someone who knows what they are doing (do your homework, and find a properly qualified, Board Certified/GMS Specialist) and you will hopefully find that it is not too bad.

The problem is, if you just file down the bump you are left with a flat contour. Surgeons call this an open book deformity. The nasal bones need to be folded in. To do this, the bones must be broken. I charge $5000 for a rhinoplasty including anesthesia and the surgery center. I have attached a link to my website in case you wish to read more.

It is crucial in rhinoplasty to do what is necessary to give the best result.  Sometimes that takes a little and others much more.  Depending on the size of the hump you can sometimes simply reduce it and call it a day. That being said most humps are large enough that if you do that the nose will appear wider and hence needs to be fractured and narrowed for a more aesthetically appealing contour.  Patients are often frightened about the fracture but is very straight forward and not painful.  It is not like breaking a leg or an arm which has very thick bone.  The bone will be almost healed in 1-2wks. 

Rhinoplasty is a complex operation that can involve many interacting forces within the nose. If the bump is very small, it can be filed down without "breaking" the nose. But if there is any size to the bump at all, the bones need to be brought in to give the nasal bridge a normal shape again. Typically this is done with very fine instruments so there is not much trauma involved. The nose usually heals up great and it doesn't even look like it was broken. I understand that fracturing of the nose during rhinoplasty can make one nervous, but if necessary, it definitely creates the best result.

Yes, it is definitely possible to smooth out a lump on the bridge of the nose without breaking it. However, this is not a matter of just finding the right surgeon to perform the surgery that way; it depends on if you are a candidate. Whether or not your surgeon is able to take this approach centers around the physical structure of your nose. If you are interested in this possibility, take the time to find an excellent rhinoplasty specialist who is a board certified plastic surgeon, and who’s willing to listen to your preferences. From there, your surgeon can give you an exam to determine whether filing the bump away is going to give you the best results.

Hello and thank you for your question. I don’t recommend reducing a dorsal hump without osteotomies as this can lead to an open roof deformity. A full rhinoplasty is a much better option. Cost varies based on surgeon expertise and geographic location. The total cost of primary rhinoplasty in my practice is $22.5k (all fees included). If you have breathing problems with documented nostril collapse and a deviated septum, then insurance can sometimes cover a portion of the cost. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

There are many options for those looking to remove unsightly bumps or asymmetrical features of the nose. While traditional rhinoplasty is one of the best options for permanent results, a non-surgical alternative might produce similar results without the pain and downtime of surgery. By injecting the nose with dermatological fillers such as Restylane, Juvéderm, and Radiesse, we are able to sculpt the nose to give it a more balanced appearance. Despite the fact that we are able to camouflage the bump in the nose, the nose itself cannot be made smaller through a non-surgical rhinoplasty.  

Options for removing or reducing the size of "bumps" on the nose, also known as dorsal humps, depend on the size of the bump along with the rest of your facial anatomy. Very small bumps may able to be reduced by filing down the bone. Most larger bumps do require breaking the nasal bones after the bump has been removed in order to prevent a complication called open roof deformity. An open roof deformity is the appearance of an unnatural-appearing flattening of the nasal bridge that can occur when a bump is removed. To prevent this from happening, the bones on the sides of the nose are broken and turned inward in a triangular fashion to give a more support and structure to the nasal septum. If you are interested in less invasive options to reduce the size of a bump on the nose, you may want to look into non-surgical rhinoplasty, where filler is injected into the bridge of the nose to create a smoother, straighter bridge.  

Gary Linkov, MD
Rhinoplasty Specialist
Manhattan

In my practice, I prefer to file bones gently rather than breaking them. This technique provides precision sculpting without the downtime of breaking bones. Gently filing the nasal bridge reduces the amount of swelling and bruising, thereby shortening the recovery period. It is always best to have an in-person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who has substantial experience in rhinoplasty. Thank you for your question, and best of luck to you!

It sounds like you are describing a dorsal hump reduction.  This can sometimes be done without osteotomies, but other times fracturing the nasal bones is needed.  I recommend you schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon for evaluation and further recommendations.  Best of luck.