1 1/2 years after rhinoplasty, nose only now beginning to look crooked. How can I fix it? (Photo)

Question

I got a rhinoplasty a year and a half ago to remove a nasal hump and fix a bulbous tip. Only within the last couple weeks/month I've noticed swelling on one side of the nose which gives the nose a curved look. Why is this occurring now, and how can I fix it?

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

At this point, you would be a candidate for revision rhinoplasty. Keep in mind that revision procedures can be even more complex than the initial surgery, due to loss of structural support and potential scar tissue. Make sure you choose a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has performed many revision rhinoplasties. With the right experience and qualifications, you should be able to achieve a good result from your revision procedure.

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

Correcting small frontal asymmetries, as an isolated procedure, is just exquisitely difficult. But if you are considering a revision, it's helpful to look at anything that still bothers you about the nose, so everything can be addressed at the same time.You only posted this one cropped frontal view, but your nose looks long to me, with the tip hanging down. If that's on your list, then elevating the tip in a revision can help with the asymmetry, because a long nose shows more asymmetries than a shorter nose: the new position of the tip might just cover the asymmetry you notice today.The woman in the short video that I posted with this answer had the tip of her nose elevated significantly in her revision operation. In expert hands, making that change is one of the more predictable changes to accomplish in a rhinoplasty, even a revision.How *much* to elevate the tip, or even whether to do it at all? We figure that out with morphs, well before surgery.

Gary Linkov, MD · Answer

Revision rhinoplasty requires exceptional skill on behalf of the surgeon and great communication with the patient about realistic goals and expectations.
Common cosmetic concerns include a dorsal hump, wide nose, sunken nose, irregularities, and asymmetries. Functional concerns include difficulty breathing through the nose, which can and should be addressed at the same time as your rhinoplasty.
In a revision rhinoplasty, cartilage from your septum may have been depleted and therefore often an alternative source of cartilage is needed, such as from the ear. This is just one of the important differences between primary and revision rhinoplasty that need to be discussed in detail before you decide to proceed with surgery. 
In your situation, cartilage has memory and can shift over time. There is no non-surgical way to correct this. A revision procedure would be required to re-straighten your nose.
Make sure to seek out the care of a board certified surgeon with extensive experience in revision rhinoplasty. Find someone you connect with, who will listen to your concerns and provide you with a framework for what is possible.  
Gary Linkov, MD
Rhinoplasty Specialist
Manhattan

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Best to follow up in your operative surgeon to determine what is causing the issue. When there's thick skin in the tip of the nose creating asymmetry, steroid shots may be of some benefit where there's excessive scar tissue and thick skin with fluid retention.

1 1/2 years after rhinoplasty, nose only now beginning to look crooked. How can I fix it? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: One and a half years after rhinoplasty, now the nose beginning to look crooked

Answer: One and a half years after rhinoplasty, now the nose beginning to look crooked

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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1 1/2 years after rhinoplasty, nose only now beginning to look crooked. How can I fix it? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: One and a half years after rhinoplasty, now the nose beginning to look crooked

Answer: One and a half years after rhinoplasty, now the nose beginning to look crooked

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.