Will my nose tip ever feel “squishy” again as it did pre-op? I had closed rhinoplasty 2 months ago.

Question

I understand I am still swollen which contributed to a hard nose tip. But I’m curious if my nose will ever feel like a natural nose again. In my operative report it states: to support the tip 2cm x 1 cm strut graft was placed between the medial crura and the cadual septum using sutures. Does this mean that my tip will always feel somewhat hard/stiff? Or will I be able to squish it down as you can squish down a natural nose?

Jeffrey T. Steitz, MD · Answer

After a rhinoplasty the nose is always stiffer immediately after surgery which takes some time to go down.  Whenever surgery is performed the tip needs to be adequately supported so that it maintains a natural position.  This leads to a great improvement in tip support however it does create a stiffness in the nose that wasn't there before.  In general, the stiffness softens with time, but the true "squishiness" of the nose never fully returns to how it once was if the proper techniques were used during surgery.  
But rest easy as you're still very early from surgery and you should get increased softening of the nose with time.  Good luck!

Arshad Muzaffar, MD · Answer

Hello, and thanks for your question.  You are very early in the postop period, so you definitely have swelling in the tip that will contribute to an unnatural feel.  When cartilage grafts are used in the nasal tip, they do change the way the tip feels, and can cause the tip to be more rigid than it used to be, depending on the type of graft, source of the graft, and method of securing the graft.  For the time being, be patient and allow the normal healing process to evolve.  The nose will feel more "natural" to you over time.

Will my nose tip ever feel “squishy” again as it did pre-op? I had closed rhinoplasty 2 months ago.

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Will my nose tip ever feel “squishy” again as it did pre-op? I had closed rhinoplasty 2 months ago.

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.