Does a nose have a tendency to return to its original shape?

Hi there,You have a very good question.After initial trauma to the nose, the nose will try to heal itself. But it often heals with the bones and cartilage in the wrong position. Your body will not be able to move the nasal bones to make them straight on it own. It needs a little help in moving the pieces back to position so that it can then heal correctly.If you are early after the trauma, we can often correct the trauma by moving the pieces back to its original position without any incisions or grafts. We call this a closed reduction.If time has passed already since the time of your trauma, your body might have healed the bones and cartilage in a crooked position. To correct it, you need might need a rhinoplasty to be able to move the cartilages and bone. Your body will have a tendency to try to bring the bones and cartilage back to the last position (the crooked one). The longer the nose is crooked the more all the structures are used to be in the crooked position and will want to return to that. If you are not sure you want surgery you can wait and see how your breathing is when all the swelling from the trauma resolved. You can always choose to have the surgery later on.I hope this helps

Cartilage of the nose can continue to grow and reshape over time. Cartilage also has a memory to it and will want to return to its original shape when it is repositioned. Surgical techniques that remove cartilage and grafts and/or sutures that help to support the repositioned cartilage can help maintain the cartilage in its new position.
I would not let this discourage you from having surgery.  What would be the best result and most appropriate procedure would depend an examination and discussion about desired outcome.  Naturally appearing long term results can be obtained with surgery.  Your surgeon should have an extensive experience with rhinoplasty and be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and one who is ideally a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAP).  I wish you the best!
Robert Schutz, M.D., FACS
Rapid City, South Dakota

 When performing a rhinoplasty, there are changes made to the upper lateral cartilages, lower lateral cartilages and nasal bones including breaking the nasal bones and and setting them in the new position. When making the changes required in a rhinoplasty procedure, most of the changes that are made to change the shape of the nose work by keeping the bones and cartilages in that position. Rhinoplasty is a difficult endeavor, so choose your surgeon very wisely based on extensive experience.

Your nasal structures can change with time; Your nasal bones will be rigid and not likely to change with time; your nasal cartilages though have memory and will try to get back to their original shape unless they mechanically altered and sutured to keep the new shape.

Thank you for the question and if the septum or bones in your nose have been broken and be forceably deviated causing difficulty breathing they do not return to normal over time and need to reset.  See see an expert in your area and find out why you are having difficulty breathing and get it corrected.Dr. Corbin

The nose will not usually return to it's pre-trauma shape. However,  I always tell patients that surgery is not necessary unless there is a change in breathing or appearance. Cartilage and bone typically heal but frequently in the wrong position which is not normal.

Dear Justine, After trauma to the nose it will try and heal on its own however the problem is that typically it heals in the wrong position and needs to be reset or corrected surgically. An in office consultation and examination will determine if your breathing difficulties are related to your past trauma. If you do have a septoplasty the nose will not respond by trying to move back to its fractured position. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.