Why can’t I smile after rhinoplasty? I have a think line above my lip and below my nose it feels paralyzed (Photo)

Question

When I try to smile, under my nose feels paralyzed. It doesn’t move. My surgeon said he didn’t cut my muscle, so what could be the cause of this? My rhinoplasty overall is severely botched. When I try to smile big it almost feel like my columella is going to break. Can a revision fix my smile? A septal extension graft was put in, could this be the cause? My speech is messed up from it and it’s hard to pronounce words. If the muscle was cut, could this be reversed? Thank you!

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

The reason why you're upper lip feels heavy is largely because of the work that was done with the septal extension graft that was placed below your septum into the upper lip muscles. Virgin said that none of the Muscles were removed, I suspect that your smile will completely return to normal. Sometimes this takes many months. I hope that this helps. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

It's possible that the sensation you're experiencing when you smile is due to damage to the nerves that control the muscles in that area. While your surgeon may not have intentionally cut any muscles during your rhinoplasty procedure, it's possible that the nerves were affected during surgery or in the healing process.

If you're experiencing difficulty with your smile and speech, it's important to seek a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon with experience in revision rhinoplasty. They will be able to evaluate your condition and determine the best course of action to address your concerns.

A revision rhinoplasty may be able to improve the appearance of your nose and potentially address any functional issues you're experiencing. However, it's important to understand that revision surgery can be more challenging than the initial procedure due to scarring and changes in the anatomy of the area.

It's also possible that non-surgical options, such as fillers, Botox, or speech therapy, could be effective in addressing some of your concerns.

Overall, it's important to have a thorough evaluation by a qualified surgeon to determine the cause of your symptoms and the best course of treatment.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Why can’t I smile after rhinoplasty? I have a think line above my lip and below my nose it feels paralyzed (Photo)

Answers (2)

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