Crooked nose 6 weeks after closed reduction. Is it swelling and will it improve? (Photo)

At 6 weeks following rhinoplasty, you are early in your recovery and there is still swelling present. However, it sounds that you feel that your nose is still deviated to the left. This was something that was present prior to surgery and seems to have been one of your main motives for having rhinoplasty. In some cases, early postoperative asymmetries will improve while in other cases they do not. Regardless of how good a rhinoplasty surgeon is, it is difficult if not impossible to completely straighten out a nose-the goal is to make it significantly better so that any remaining deviation is subtle and imperceptible. Digital pressure to the nose in the direction opposite to the deviation can help to resist intrinsic forces in the cartilage that will try to return the cartilage to its original shape-this is especially the case in the first few months. After this point, scar tissue has set the cartilages in their position. It is worthwhile to perform these maneuvers at 6 weeks as it can still reduce the degree of deviation that will occur. You should continue to follow-up with your surgeon until you are completely healed if you continue to have concerns-it will take about 1 year to see the final result after rhinoplasty surgery.

Dear Stan, thank you for your question. It may take
several months for swelling to subside after rhinoplasty. Here in San Diego, we
follow our patients for one year to follow their healing. Consider following up
with your surgeon to monitor your progress and see if any intervention is
necessary. Rarely a second opinion may be in order. Best of Luck.

At 6 weeks after a closed reduction, the nasal bones are set in a permanent position. An open reduction nasal fracture through closed rhinoplasty techniques can narrow and straighten the nasal bones more effectively due to the medial and lateral osteotomies that are performed.  A closed rhinoplasty procedure involves placement of all incisions on the inside of the nose.  No external incisions are required. In closed reduction, osteotomies are not performed. For many examples of crooked noses repaired in our practice, please see the link below

After six weeks it is likely that your nose is "set" and will not change greatly. Nasal fracture can dislocate the upper cartilage which can remain displaced after reduction of the nasal bone. Also a fracture might unmask a deviation in the septum. If you are unhappy after full healing an open reduction might be an option, or perhaps the problem is with the septum.

Hi,I see your pictures.  Closed nasal reduction is not a rhinoplasty.  It is a very limited procedure with the goal of trying to reduce the deformity of a recently broken nose.  Sometimes the nasal fracture fragments go back into place and you get a result very close to the original nose and many times the fragments are too shattered and damaged including the internal septum so the results of the closed nasal reduction may be very little to no significant improvements making a full septorhinoplasty in the future necessary and the next step.  More importantly we need to look at your picture before you broke your nose.  Many patients are surprised to find out their noses were never perfectly straight so you need to compare BEFORE trauma to AFTER trauma to AFTER closed nasal reduction to get an honest assessment of your nose.  Your current result may be as good as its going to get but with time and reduction of swelling it can improve or even look worse.  

You may have some swelling at 6 weeks that could possibly change over time.  It is not always possible to completely correct a nasal deformity with a closed reduction alone.   You may need a formal rhinoplasty to get the desired result.  This may be done at 6-12 months after the closed reduction if healing is felt to be complete.  Good luck.  Donald R. Nunn MD  Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

After six weeks the bone is stabilized. Treatment of a nasal fracture is not a rhinoplasty.Your present result should be similar to the situation prior to the fracture.

Talk to your doctor.  Hard to tell how crooked it really is compared to where it was.  Also, sometimes, if the septum was also fractured, you might need some septal surgery down the line, say 9 months or so, to further straighten the nose.