Surgery Needed for Broken Nose and Slight Deviated Septum?

If the nose is crooked after a nasal injury, it can often be corrected with a closed nasal bone reduction procedure if performed within the first 10-14 days after the injury. In some cases, this procedure is not enough to correct the deformity (particularly if there is significant septal cartilage injury), and a formal septorhinoplasty surgery might be needed to straighten the nose.
If nasal breathing is not an issue after an injury, and patients are not worried about a crooked nose, then there is no reason to perform surgery at all. Keep in mind though, that a closed nasal reduction is a quick and easy procedure whereas a full septorhinoplasty is much more involved, and that the first 10-14 days after an injury are the critical time window to determine what might be needed for correction.
Be sure to see a rhinoplasty expert.
All the best,

Thank you for the question. If you have a mild deviation of the nose and/or septum, this can often be corrected in the first few days after the injury via a closed reduction. This procedure is done with topical numbing medications in many cases. If the fracture is "set" (not mobile), then a more involved septorhinoplasty would be needed. If you do not have any significant breathing problems, the decision to have this done would have more to do with cosmesis. Best of luck moving forward!

If you're nose is broken and you're breathing okay, you don't have to get surgery! However, if your nose is crooked and you want it straightened, your surgery may involve putting the bones back to where they were (relatively simple with no incisions needed sometimes.) If you nose is very crooked, then you may require bone or cartilage grafts to help make your nose have a straight look. This is more involved and is usually done with an open approach. Good luck!

Generally speaking, nasal fractures can be repaired at 2 time points.
The first is a procedure called a closed reduction, where no cuts are made and the bones are just pushed back into place. Generally, it is recommended to do this procedure within the first 7-10 days. I have done it as late as 3-4 weeks in severely deviated noses. This is often done with some light anesthesia to make it comfortable. Sometimes the septum will move over with the bones. Often it will not.
The second is a procedure more like a rhinoplasty, where the bones are rebroken and set in the middle. This is usually done after 3 months of healing has occurred. This definitely requires anesthesia.
Although some surgeons will try to do a septoplasty soon after an injury, I prefer to wait until the inflammation is gone. This allows more precise correction of the cartilage, in my opinion. Therefore, I tell patients they should wait 3 months to get their septum fixed.
For cases like yours, I generally recommend to have a closed reduction and then wait 3 months. If the breathing problems are still present, then a septoplasty can be done. Most patients feel better and don't need the second surgery for breathing.
Good luck

If your nose looks crooked after the trauma, but you're breathing fine, you should have this repaired. In general, you can have your nasal bones repositioned without "re-breaking" them within 10 days of your injury.
You can have a "closed reduction" of your nasal fracture performed with local anesthetic in the office, with minimal discomfort, and no downtime. If you wait longer than 2 weeks, you'll need a more extensive surgery with general anesthetic.
Since you're breathing fine, I don't think you need a septoplasty.
I hope this helps, and best regards.