I Hit my Nose, Is the Swelling Mean Permanent Damage?

Hello and thank you so much for your question. With the amount of swelling still present, this can create the appearance of asymmetry and irregularities. I suggest an in-person consultation with a rhinoplasty specialist to ensure permanent damage was not done to the nose and to take the correct measures in a timely fashion. I hope this information helps and I wish you the best of luck. 

It is totally normal to have swelling over the nose after trauma, and this usually goes away by 2-4 weeks. It would be advisable to see a nasal specialist to make sure there is no fracture or internal damage. 

Very common question.  As you can imagine without an exam it is very difficult to say.  Just because a nose is swollen it does not mean that the structures like the bone and cartilage are permanently damaged.  An exam and often time will tellGood LuckDr Rahban

Swelling after injury to the nose is always worse at 2-3 days after the injury.

This makes it hard to see if there was an actual fracture. The swelling usually goes down rapidly after 4-7 days, and a qualified surgeon should be able to assess if the bones are displaced and need to be moved back into the correct position. 

I suggest using ice over the bridge of the nose for the next 2-3 days, and seeking a consultation from an experienced surgeon at 7-10 days after the injury to assess whether treatment will be required.

Best wishes,

-Dr. Jamil Asaria, FACE Cosmetic Surgery

It is very difficult to tell if a nose is broken without a clinical examination. The initial swelling can mask any underlying fracture and under these circumstances it is best to seek an opinion first and your surgeon will carry out a complete examination including visualisation of the septum. It is then advisable to wait a couple of weeks for the swelling to subside and have a further examination. If the nasal bones are broken this is better assessed at this stage and a manipulation of the nasal bones can be carried out .

Nasal fractures occur frequently following facial trauma. In many cases, fractures are accompanied by bruising, swelling, bleeding, distortion of nasal structures, deviation of the nose and difficulty breathing through the nose.
                In many cases, the diagnosis of a nasal fracture is relatively simple. Some patients have obvious deformities such as nasal flattening or significant nasal deviation which makes the diagnosis obvious. In other cases, the diagnosis of a nasal fracture can be very difficult because of swelling. In these cases, swelling may need to resolve before the diagnosis can be made.

                When patients have obvious or displaced nasal fractures, they will usually require corrective surgery. Not all nasal fractures require treatment. In some cases, the bone and cartilage are not displaced and because of this, surgery isn’t indicated.

                When corrective surgery is performed within three weeks of the fracture, closed nasal reduction is performed. This is a relatively simple procedure that re-positions and stabilizes the nasal bones. If repair isn’t done within three weeks of injury, correction should be delayed for one year and then a formal rhinoplasty performed.

                In your particular case it’s reasonable to seek medical attention if your deformity and swelling are persistent. Under These circumstances a nasal fracture may be present. 

Without nasal bleeding, it's possible you did not fracture your nose, and you may be seeing swelling. For definitive evaluation and treatment, consider visiting a rhinoplasty specialist within the first 10-14 days after your trauma.Wishing you well.Dr Joseph

It is very difficult to answer your question without seeing you in person and examining your nose – you should consider seeking medical attention

if the swelling does not involve any broken bone underneath, then it will not be permanent. if the change is due to a broken bone (which typically causes bleeding when it happens from inside the nose), then it may need to be straightened out to make sure it heals similar to what it looked like before. If 3-4 days go by and you still see the difference, it may not just be minor swelling, and it may indicate a fracture underneath. Seek out a plastic surgeon for an evaluation as to whether you may have broken your nose. If so, it needs to be fixed within the first two weeks of the injury.
-David Mattos, Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Hello, I’m sorry this happened to you, unfortunately facial injuries in sport are fairly common. As the most frequently injured area on the face, the nose often takes the brunt of the damage. Most commonly swelling is related to the way in which your body heals and is not related to permanent damage, however a substantial knock to your nose can either break the bones within your nose or damage the soft tissues. If within 24 hours after the injury using ice and cold compress will be helpful in reducing swelling. It may be worth visiting a rhinoplasty expert if you experience any breathing difficulties, noticeable asymmetry or soft tissue injuries to your skin. Most swelling will resolve over 2 weeks, and if your nose is not improving day be day it may be useful to consult with a rhinoplasty specialist for a further opinion.