Is lumpy cartilage after an open rhinoplasty normal?

Cartilage grafts are very common during rhinoplasty.
When you say lumpy cartilage, do you mean that you can see it or feel it.

If you can see it, that may be a concern that you want to discsuss with your surgeon.
If you can feel it, I would not worry at this point but give it time for the swelling to resolve which as stated can take up to a year.

Did the surgeon attempt to narrow your nostrils and did you request this.?

If they narrowed the nose at the base, then it can be wide due to swelling and healing tissue and give this at least 8-12 months to improve.
If they did not narrow the nose, it can be an optical illusion which makes it seem more noticeable after removing a big hump. The other possibility is that it is swelling which is normal at this point in time.

Thanks for your question. I can see that you are concerned and rightfully so. Usually by 3 months after surgery, a lot of the swelling is gone and you have a pretty good sense of what your outcome is going to be, but it varies per person. Some people stay swollen longer, and lumpiness, swelling, etc. may remain for longer in some patients. We still need to give it more time before we evaluate it, but if by the 6 month mark you don't see any improvement, I would discuss the results and your concerns with your surgeon. Ideally the nose should feel smooth on the top after surgery with good technique used. If you are concerned, you can always get a separate opinion from another plastic surgeon.
-Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group

Without an operative report, physical examination or
pictures it’s virtually impossible to evaluate your clinical course. It’s not
unusual for patients to experience anxiety about their nasal appearance
following rhinoplasty for a variety of reasons.It’s
important to understand that wound healing is a dynamic process that can take
12 to 18 months to reach completion.During this period, it’s not unusual for patients to be anxious and in
some cases unhappy with their result.It’s safe to say that the majority of these patients are ultimately
happy with their result once swelling has resolved and wound healing is
complete.For this reason, revision
surgery shouldn’t be performed for at least a year following rhinoplasty.If
you’re concerned about the appearance of your nose, it’s important to maintain
contact with your plastic surgeon.Your
surgeon should be able to reassure you and alleviate your anxiety.