Exposed nasal cartilage. How does this happen? Will I require surgery?

Without an exam, it will not be possible to fully evaluate you and give you recommendations. Be sure to discuss your goals and concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon and consider the pros and the cons. Be certain your surgeon is properly certified.  I've attached a link where you can start your search. 

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  If you have exposed cartilage, then this may need to be repaired.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. 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.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thanks so much for reaching out. Exposed cartilage would be very rare without a history of trauma or surgery. It may however if it is true require surgery to fix. This can be done at the same time as a septoplasty.I hope this helps :-)

Exposed cartilage without prolonged or significant direct trauma to the septum would be an odd finding. An in-person exam can help to allay your fears. If cartilage is exposed, treatment depends on the extent of the exposure and underlying cause. 
Your deviated septum can be addressed through a septoplasty. Patients with breathing complaints may have some coverage for the septoplasty surgery as part of their insurance agreement.In our practice, patients who gain insurance pre-approval have at least a portion of their septoplasty anesthetic and facility fees paid for by their insurance plan.
A detailed examination will help delineate the best treatment. Consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery would be the next best step.

Thanks for your question. I have seen exposed cartilage without surgery from trauma, autoimmune disease, infection, as well as nose picking. You must go an be seen by an ENT doctor ASAP for a diagnosis as well as treatment plan.  Do not focus on the deviation of the septum, rather the health of the septum at this time. Ideally, a perforation can be avoided. Best of luck!

You would have to be seen in person. It would be highly unusual for cartilage to be exposed without having had surgery.

Hi
I think what u r referring to is a caudal dislocation of the nasal septum. When the lower part of the septum is dislocated out of the maxillary groove it gives this appearance. The surgery is v simple and quick with a few days healing time.
I suggest you see a good ENT surgeon.
Thank you for yr query.

Thanks for your question. If you've never had nasal surgery or nasal trauma and you don't use any medications in your nose, you most likely don't have exposed cartilage in your nose. Following surgery, cartilage can be exposed, but it almost always heals over with proper wound care. In your case, the thin internal nasal lining can sometimes get stretched out over a very deviated septum which makes it APPEAR as if cartilage is exposed when it is not in fact. A sign of exposed cartilage would be a lot of bloody crusting as your body tried to heal it. An in-person exam would be important to help determine exactly what is going on. But I'm sure you'll be fine.Good luck!

It is best to consult with your doctor. Sometimes there are other issues which may look like cartilage. Surgery or nasal trauma could be other causes.

Nasal Trauma and surgery can cause exposed cartilage.  Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon for an evaluation as soon as possible.