How successful are surgeries to fix a broken nose 6 months after being completely healed?

Question

How successful are surgeries to fix a broken nose 6 months after being completely healed? Are patients more often than not happy with there results? And I understand it take some patients a long time for their swelling to completely dissipate, are most happy with their results when the majority of swelling disappears over a period of about 2 weeks?

David Magilke, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. If you break your nose, it can often be "re-set" in the early phase - basically manipulating it back into it's pre-injury position and then splinting it while it heals.  At 6 months the nose is fully healed, and repairing it now will require a formal rhinoplasty - basically mobilizing the anatomy that has healed into a new position so that it can be returned to the desired location.  Depending on the injury, the rhinoplasty may be straight forward and require only refracturing the injured bone.  More severe injuries may require grafting, and other techniques.  However, you should be able to achieve improvement in form and junction through surgery - even 6 months after a fracture.   You should also plan to be patient, as swelling after rhinoplasty can take up to a year to completely resolve.  Good luck!

Kim Taylor, FRACS · Answer

At 6 months following your trauma your nose should be completely healed & settled into its new shape.  If it is not, then you need to wait a little longer before your surgery.  A full rhinoplasty is required after such a length of time and I would expect excellent results.  Ensure your surgeon clearly knows what your expectations of the surgery are.  All the best

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The rhinoplasty procedure to straighten a broken and crooked nose can be performed at any time after the injury. To reset the nasal bones straight requires osteotomies placed in them. Sometimes  a cartilaginous spreader graft is placed underneath a concave upper lateral cartilage in the central section of the nose. Anticipate approximately 2 weeks of bruising and swelling after the procedure.

Jay Calvert, MD, FACS · Answer

Nose fractures are difficult injuries to control.  Waiting between 4-6 months to do the definitive open nasal operation is the key.  In general, there is a 15% revision rate with this type of operation, but some things can be done to minimize the chances of revision.  Definitely worth a clear discussion with your surgeon.

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD · Answer

The best time to fix a broken nose is soon after injury. The success of the surgery on an older broken nose depends on the extent of the deviation and extent of involvement of the septum. Patients are often happy with their results as long as their expectations are reasonable. Sometimes the nose can be completely straightened and sometimes it cannot be completely straightened and there is a slight deviation still present.

Stuart H. Bentkover, MD (retired) · Answer

I actually prefer to fix a broken nose  within 10 days.  However, if for some reason, the reconstruction must be delayed, it generally goes very well.  Some surgeons prefer to wait.  If the septum is fractured, it is a better idea to wait in many cases.

Dennis Barek, MD (retired) · Answer

Nasal bones heal differently than long bones of the legs. If the bones were completely crushed inward rather than just pushed to the side different technical maneuvers are required  for each. But for most cases there is enough stability at 6 months and resolution of swelling that surgery can be successful

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Surgery to fix a broken nose 6 months after trauma is very successful and most patients are happy with their results when the the work is done by an experienced surgeon. Complete healing will take longer than 2 weeks.

How successful are surgeries to fix a broken nose 6 months after being completely healed?

Answers (8)

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