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Getting Rhinoplasty After Septoplasty?

asked 3 years ago by DBDC in Washington, DC
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 2,224 times
Tags: nose, crooked

I broke my nasal bones in 3 different places and cracked my septum. My nose was never totally straight to begin with, but the results of the Septoplasty surgery are terrible.

My doctor would not do Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty at the same time as he said it would have difficulty healing. My nose is more crooked then before and my right nostril is twice the size of my left.

Will I need Rhinoplasty to fix this? Can it be straightened, and how long do I have to wait after the septoplasty to have Rhinoplasty? My nose almost looks deformed.

14 answers to Getting Rhinoplasty After Septoplasty?

See a revision rhinoplasty specialist.

It is very unusual not to do both at the same time. The nose can be revised, but you should see a revision rhinoplasty specialist with a great deal of experience to repair your nose--you want the next operation to be your last.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Septorhinoplasty is commonly performed together

A septorhinoplasty is commonly performed together. They can be performed separately. Since the patient has already had a septoplasty, one should probably wait two to three months prior to embarking on a rhinoplasty surgery to let full healing take effect regarding the internal portion of the nose. Nostril size can be slightly adjusted through Weir excisions of the alar base, also known as an alarplasty.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Do rhinoplasty with a revision septoplasty

Hi, it's not clear as to why the septoplasty and rhinoplasty were not done initially, however it sounds like you will need revision at some point in the future. I would advise you to see a surgeon who is experienced in both primary and secondary (revision) rhinoplasty. Most surgeons will ask you to wait 6-12 months after your initial procedure to allow the swelling to come down prior to performing any additional surgery. Good luck.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Missing information

I am not sury why the septum and rhinoplasty couldn't be done concurrently- must be the nuance of the injury. You will likely need a rhinoplasty at some point. I would guess that you will need to wait abuout a year before an attempt should be made. In the hands of an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon, you should have a great result. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

You will likely need a rhinoplasty

Without pictures it is hard to give you specific advice. However, it sounds like eventually you will need a cosmetic rhinoplasty. However, if you recently had surgery on your nose, it is best to wait several months to a year before considering any revision surgery. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty may be necessary

Sounds like you have had fairly significant nasal trauma with this and in the past as well. It sounds like your septum may have slipped off it's perch (the maxillary crest and the nasal spine.) When this happens there is a big discrepancy in nostril size. That can be corrected with a septoplasty addressing the dislocation of the septum. If additional contour improvement in your bridge or tip is desired you would most likely require a reconstructive septorhinoplasty.

Richard Gentile, MD
Cleveland Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialplastics.org

Rhinoplasty and septoplasty as related to a crooked/straight nose

As previously mentioned the septum is the central internal structure (wall) that divides the left from the right side of the nose. Your external nose can be crooked and your septum straight or vice versa. Straightening the septum does not necessarily straighten the nose but it is typically performed to improve breathing or help decrease nasal congenstion/obstruction associated with sinusitis. Generally rhinoplasty and septoplasty are perfomred concurrently. One exception is severe collapse... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Nasal Fracture, Septoplasty, Rhinoplasty

Nasal reconstruction after nasal trauma routinely involves the septum (septoplasty) and the outer structures of the nose (rhinoplasty). Personally, I virtually never recommend seperating these two parts if both require attention. Nasal structures are closely interrelated: For best outcome, septum and external nose are addressed in conjunction. In addition, cartilage grafting is commonly necessary for fracture repair and this cartilage can be harvested from the septum. Septoplasty commonly... more

Frank P. Fechner, MD
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drfechner.com

Rhinoplasty after Septoplasty

Following a closed reduction of a nasal fracture with or without a septoplasty, it is common for the nose to have residual deformity or breathing problems. The medical literature reports that the need for a subsequent rhinoplasty to correct these problems can be as high as 50%. Rhinoplasty and septoplasty are frequently performed together. The term septorhinoplasty denotes a surgical procedure to correct both the form and function of the nose and is often performed after nasal trauma. For... more

C. Spencer Cochran, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.rhinoplasty-usa.com

Treatment(s) for a broken nose

A rhinoplasty is a combined operation consisting of multiple proceedures done at one time on the external and internal parts of the nose to restore nasal function and,in many cases,appearance. A septoplasty is an internal proceedure to straighten or remove parts of a deformed septum which are interfering with nasal function. A septoplasty cannot correct the asymmetry resulting from broken and displaced nasal bones. In my experience over 30 years nasal trauma like you describe is best... more

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

You can be helped

I do not know the specific circumstances in your situation, but an external nasal deformity cannot be corrected with septoplasty alone generally. Having had a septoplasty previously does make having a rhinoplasty surgery slightly more challenging in the event cartilage is required to use as grafting material, but auricular or ear cartilage could be used as a substitute. I would wait at least 4-6 months after your septoplasty surgery to even consider doing a rhinoplasty, but the good news in... more

Samson Lee, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty For Broken Nose

DBDC, Thanks for your question. It seems unusual that your surgeon would not recommend doing a septoplasty at the same time as a rhinoplasty. In fact, these procedures are commonly performed together, especially in patients with a history of nasal trauma. It is important to address the septum at the same time as the other nasal structures in order to get the best result in straightening the nose. If the septal cartilage is bent, then a rhinoplasty will not make your nose straight unless... more

Henry Daniel Sandel IV, MD
Annapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

How long has it been since your trauma?

You appear to have a few concurrent problems. The first question I have is, how long has it been since you broke your nose? Typically for any significant amount of trauma, most Rhinoplasty surgeons will wait at least a year to let the nose deswell and soften up to tolerate an operation to fix cosmetic or other deformities. Having a septoplasty alone does not typically mean you can't have a cosmetic rhinoplasty either at some point. Your nose needs to be soft and a reliable place to operate... more

Manish H. Shah, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Time may improve things after Septoplasty

Swelling after injury or surgery last several weeks. Swelling occurs both on the outside and inside of the nose. Most swelling resolves within a month, but the last 10-20% of swelling a minimum of one year to resolve. It may be too early to determine whether you'll need additional surgery. Nasal injuries which involve a fractured septum are more severe than a typical broken nose. Generally, most plastic surgeons wait at minimum 6 months after injuries or surgery before contemplating another... more