Columellar graft placed too deep? I cannot smile as I used to and I feel resistence on my nose

Question

He inserted a graft on my columela, and I am pretty sure it’s either too big or placed too deep, because if I sliiiiightly pull from my columella away from my face, i can smile exactly like I used to. Smiling and lauching is feeling you don’t forget, so I know there’s something there that’s blocking my natural smile.. Is that a possibility? And would it be hard to address? If this were the problem, could some minor cutting of the graft fix this? Or would i need to undergo a full rhinoplasty?

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

What you are experiencing I have heard many times in patients with columella grafts. It’s simple enough to remove the graft through a closed rhinoplasty technique. I’ve done it many times. Also I think columella struts are overused and serve very little purpose. But that’s how many surgeons are taught.  I’ve only used a columellar strut once in my entire career

Hong Ryul Jin, MD · Answer

It can be a too deeply placed columellar strut or it can be a so called "septal extension graft" which is fixed to the caudal septum to reshape your tip. The graft length, size or shape can be adjusted so that the pulling of the columella can be eased. It may not need a full revision rhinoplasty. Please ask the doctor who operated on you. Thanks.

Columellar graft placed too deep? I cannot smile as I used to and I feel resistence on my nose

Answers (2)

More Rhinoplasty Questions

Columellar graft placed too deep? I cannot smile as I used to and I feel resistence on my nose

Answers (2)

More Rhinoplasty Questions

What is the hard bump on the side of my nose? (Photo)

Saddle nose or supra break tip? 16 months post rhinoplasty noticed a dip between bridge and tip (Photo)

Can you reduce alar flare without reducing nostril size? Wide alar/small nostrils (Photo)