Is the damage after a broken nose PERMANENT?

Over 50% of patients who had nose fracture end up with permanent deformity. This deformity can be successfully corrected with  rhinoplasty. Severe deformity may require a complex reconstruction in particular if there is functional deformity (difficult breathing, nasal obstruction). Corrective nasal surgery is usually done 6-12 months after initial trauma. In the case of severe deformity surgery should be done earlier.

The nose starts healing immediately and it takes the swelling 3-6 months for the last little bit of swelling to recede..

Hello, and thank you for your question. 

Whether the damage after trauma to the nose is permanent depends really on the severity of the injury and what has been damaged. 

Sometimes there is a break in the nasal bones without too much displacement and as such this might well heal without too much in the way of longer term problems. There are other structures which are present for strength and function such as the internal and external valves of the nose and of course the partition or septum which if significantly damaged can block then nasal airway as well as change the profile. Therefore some injuries will only be able to be addressed by surgical intervention but you will need careful assessment by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon.

I hope that you found this answer helpful.

Best wishes