Will steroid injections fix my retracted columella? (photos)

Question

i had open rhinoplasty 3.5 months ago.i had my coluemella over projected, bump removed & a spreader graft placed. but my columella looks too tucked in as its placed higher than my nostrils, looking flared.i was wondering if its due to swelling & if it'll drop overtime as its still hard. if not will steroid injections help to bring it down?i dont want to have a revision so i wanted to know if there are alternatives.my nose is also wide & bulbous & i wanted to know if it'll get defined overtime?

Jamil Ahmad, MD · Answer

After rhinoplasty, tip shape is typically the last thing to settle before seeing the final result; this can take 12 months or longer. Along with the tip, the columella and columellar-lobular relationship can take quite some time to settle into the final result. During this time you will notice that the size of your tip decreases as swelling resolves and subtle details and tip definition appear. Additionally, you may notice that your tip derotates and deprojects and this will lead to a change in the shape of the columella and the columellar-lobular relationship. At three months following rhinoplasty, you are still early in your recovery. Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. It can take somewhere in and around 12-18 months to see the final results. The areas with thicker skin in the nose such as the tip, alar rims and radix will require longer to settle.Given your concerns, steroid injections will NOT help and can have some deleterious side effects. Although it is hard to be patient, you just have to allow time to heal after rhinoplasty surgery. Continue to follow-up with your surgeon as scheduled to ensure you are healing appropriately.

Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS · Answer

By your description I am not
sure I understand- is it retracted or is it hanging down?  If hanging
down, then perhaps steroid shots may help, but if retracted, this requires a
more complicated approach to restore cartilage support.

John Frodel, MD · Answer

As we inform all of our patients, it will take up to 6 months or even longer for all swelling to go away, and even longer for expect skin contraction and final healing.  Accordingly, try to be patient with the process.  We don't consider revision for at least a year after surgery as we want to see where the nose is when it is as close to final healing as possible.  I don't believe the columella is overly retracted but there are some other issues that should improve with time so hopefully you won't require a revision.

Will steroid injections fix my retracted columella? (photos)

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