Feel like i've got Inverted V Deformity? Im 7 month post op with thick skin, any chance this is just apart of healing or bad nose job?

At 7 months post-rhinoplasty, you are still within the healing window — especially with thick skin, which takes significantly longer to settle and show final results. Full rhinoplasty results in thick-skinned patients can take 18 months to 2 years or even longer. That said, an inverted V deformity is a recognized complication of rhinoplasty that occurs when the upper lateral cartilages separate or collapse away from the nasal bones after osteotomies, creating a visible shadow or line along the bridge. It can sometimes be confused with normal post-surgical swelling patterns during the healing phase. Given that you're only 7 months out, there is still a reasonable chance that continued swelling resolution will improve the appearance. However, if the inverted V shape becomes more pronounced as swelling subsides rather than less, it may indicate that the upper lateral cartilages need to be addressed with spreader grafts in a revision procedure. My recommendation would be to continue following up with your surgeon and give it more time. Take consistent photos monthly to track changes. If by 12-18 months the appearance has not improved or has worsened, a consultation with a revision rhinoplasty specialist would be a good next step. Try to be patient — thick skin healing after rhinoplasty is a marathon, not a sprint.

Question: Do I have an inverted-V deformity after my rhinoplasty? I’ve included photos. Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery – Frisco, TX: Thank you for your question and for sharing your photos, those are very helpful in evaluating your concerns. Based on what you’ve described and the images you provided, it’s possible that you’re showing signs consistent with what we call an inverted-V deformity. But let me explain what that means, why it happens, and how we typically address it. ⸻

Hello, thank you for your question. Based on your photo and description, the appearance of an Inverted V deformity can sometimes be seen after rhinoplasty, especially if the nasal cartilage is weakened or over-resected. At 7 months post-op with thick skin, some residual swelling and healing changes may still be present, which can affect the nose’s shape and contour. However, if the deformity is prominent and consistent, it may indicate structural issues from the surgery rather than just healing. I recommend discussing this concern with your surgeon for a thorough evaluation. They can determine if this is a temporary phase of healing or if revision surgery might be necessary to address any cartilage support problems.

Hard to tell from this angle only - would need side profile shots from both sides and better front photos to help identify V deformity or any deformity. There seems to be some type of small deformity in your close up photo (but hard to tell from the limited photos). Definitely revisit with your surgeon to see if there's an idea what could be possibly there (and then try seeking a second opinion to see if there's an agreement).

Hi thank you for your question and photos. An Inverted V deformity can occur after rhinioplasty surgery. Its appearance is just as it sounds, an upside down V shaped shadow over the bridge of the nose. This can result removing a dorsal hump, but not addressing the width of the midvalt (the cartilage portion of the bridge of the nose). The appearance of this deformity is the result of the middle portion of the nose being too narow with respect to the upper 1/3 (bony portion) of the nasal bridge. It can be repaired with cartilage grafts called spreader grafts during a revision rhinoplasty. Since you are just 7 months out from surgery, I would recommend waiting until 12 months to allow any remaining swelling to go down before deciding whether you would like to have a revision surgery. Hope this helps. Catherine Weng MD FACS

Buen día, Debes esperar el proceso desinflamatorio y consultar con tu cirujano si va bien tu recuperación.

Ozge Ergun, MD First, the lateral osteotomy procedure wasn't very effective. I recommend filling the nasal dorsum with diced cartilage along with the lateral osteotomy. A cartilage graft can be used to restore the nasal tip. Additionally, narrowing the alar base can be considered. At least one year must pass after surgery to plan for all of this.

Your middle vault is collapsing inwards and begins to look pinched, whilst the bones are spread apart. I wonder if you had a surprisingly good postoperative, with little if any bruising, typical from non infractured noses (root cause of your both problems). Additionally, I'd say the tip is overly rotated upwards and the alar rims are collapsing too.

There can be many reasons behind nasal asymmetry and deformities, but the primary treatment is usually revision surgery. In some cases, small fillers may be considered as an alternative solution — but only if there are no breathing problems. If breathing is not an issue, we can sometimes avoid surgery with minor filler injections. However, the main treatment for this condition is typically a revision rhinoplasty, which means another operation might be necessary in your case. The presence or absence of a breathing issue is the key factor here.

Hello and thanks for your question. Based on your photos you need rhinoplasty. You have a inverted V deformity and bulbous nose tip. Wideness of your nose can be decreased with ultrasonic rhinoplasty( ultrasonic device is used to reshape the bone without breaking the bone). Length of your nose can be decreased and the tip part of your nose can be reshaped to get more defined, feminine nose tip. For the inverted V deformity we should add cartilage graft on your nose. Your problem can be fixed with only secondary rhinoplasty surgery. In secondary cases, we may harvest cartilage from the ribs. This combination will give a good result for your case. Best of luck.