Can a broken nose be repaired years after incident?

It usually is possible to treat the effects of prior nasal injury (fracture or other trauma) years after the incident. There are many aspects to rhinoplasty surgery including the issues you're having with breathing that should be evaluated. Your surgeon would ultimately need to examine your nose, including the inside to assess what is going on and what can be done to repair the damage.You can check out my web reference link below to read more about nasal hump removal and to see some before and after photos of other rhinoplasty patients.

Although pictures or an exam would be helpful, you would probably benefit from rhinoplasty.     Find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds
of rhinoplasties and rhinoplasty revisions each year. Then look at the
plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a
sense of who can deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Fractured nose repair can be done years later based on my 35 years of doing this. Select a very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who does natural noses. 

If you are having difficulty breathing through your nose, your insurance company may cover the cost to improve your functional problems.  However, insurance companies most likely won't cover any costs to improve the appearance of your nose even if it is related to a broken nose.  I recommend you see a plastic surgeon for consultation to examine your nose and determine what improvements can be made.

Sorry to hear about your dodge ball incident I always hated that game.  Anyway based on the description provided it sounds like a rhinoplasty procedure would help all of the issues you are dealing with.  Contact a local plastic surgeon with your parents to discuss your concerns.

Dear Morabis18;



Certainly, young men have multiple injuries to their faces
in athletic contests. Your case is
not unusual. For instance, I broke my nose playing
soccer when I was 17. But I had a
rhinoplasty at age 38 because by that time, I got tired of looking at the bump
on my nose, the slight crookedness and the bulbous tip.I am glad I had it done. Having rhinoplasty was one of the best
decisions I've ever made.



If you are not comfortable with your appearance or you
are having an issue with poorly fitting glasses, you have
several good reasons to seek consultation for cosmetic surgery. Now is the time, because at 17, you are
healthy and it is very appropriate because it is unlikely your face will
change. Your adolescence is complete.



Study the subject of rhinoplasty. Consult with surgeons whose practice is
primarily rhinoplasty. Visit my and other doctors' websites who are similarly specialized, and you will learn
a lot. There is a lot of good
information out there and it's all free.



I am a big fan of cosmetic surgery books. I wrote two books (listed below) for prospective patients just like you to bring patients up to speed, learn the right questions and learn in
depth about the subject. Other doctors also have written
books. When you check out the websites,
look for websites with a lot of before and after photos. See if you can detect how natural the noses
look. When noses look natural, you
will understand why patients are happy.



Computer imaging should be a very important part of your
consultation. You need to see what the
doctor believes can be delivered and you need to be comfortable with
what you see. Ask to see other examples of
other patients who have had the same nose issues as you.



The consultation process is extremely important, so you
want to do it well. You will learn from
each consultation so take notes. Bring a friend or family member with you,
because the more eyes and ears you have in the room, the more information you will take
home.



Best wishes,



Robert
Kotler, MD, FACS

Over
4,500 nasal procedures performed

Author,
SECRETS OF A BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC
SURGEON

Author,
THE ESSENTIAL COSMETIC SURGERY COMPANION

Rhinoplasty for broken nose repair can be performed many years later after the injury. Medial and lateral osteotomies of the nasal bones will be required the straight and narrow the  bridge line. The hump can be shaved off which is composed of both bone and cartilage. Sometimes a cartilaginous spreader graft is inserted  on the concave side to give symmetry and improved breathing. Fracturing of the septum creates a deviated nasal septum which also must be repaired to improve breathing. For many examples of crooked nose repair, please see the link below

There is no time limit for correction of broken nose. We would like to wait some time for the swelling to subside after the trauma but old injuries can be corrected with much success.

What you described can frequently be
cosmetically and functionally improved. It is generally recommended that nasal surgery be
delayed until after 16-17 for a female and after 17-18 for a male. Waiting
until then usually allows the nose to reach its adult size.

Keep in mind, that following the
advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you
what to do without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your
desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and
cons of the proposed operative procedure with you and your parents may not be
in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by
the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American
Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are
comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.


Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

The straight forward answer is Yes your nose can functionally and cosmetically be improved in one operation.  Go on consults with board certified Plastic Surgeons in your area until you find one you are comfortable with and have the procedure doneDr Corbin