Is It Possible to Make a Mildly Fractured Nose Straight As It Was Before?

I think you can see from other surgeons that you need to move on this as early as possible.  The body often displays memory, so a long standing deviation is harder to correct that recent trauma.  Also, from a practical matter, some insurance companies have time limits on what they still consider "reconstructive."  If you are outside of that window, or are deemed cosmetic, than the fees vary by geography, complexity, and surgeon. 

The discipline of the physician is not as important as their experience.  Seek out a surgeon who does a lot of nose procedures.  Nasal surgery is often described as one of the toughest surgeries to consistently get perfect results, and in my opinion, complete correction of a crooked nose is one of the reasons why.  The predictability of the final result can be challenging, even in the best of hands. 

After trauma you have a window of about 2-3 weeks to have a closed reduction rhinoplasty to try to straighten the nose.  In 50% of cases the patient will need a formal rhinoplasty after 1 year out from the injury.

Good luck.

Better to see a rhinoplasty surgeon sooner than later.  Most decent insurance companies cover the cost, especially if there are breathing problems along with the fracture.

Hi Dak,
Best to see a rhinoplasty specialist asap! You can see a facial plastic surgeon, ENT, or general plastic surgeon. The nasal bones are best reset within 5 to 18 days of the injury. The longer that you wait, the more difficult to reset the bones. If treated early, a closed nasal reduction (no incisions, under local anesthesia in the office, or in the operating room) is performed. If you wait longer, then an open reduction which is more involved is required. Costs vary, but it is much less if you have a closed reduction under local anesthesia in the rhinoplasty surgeon's office.
Good luck on a straight nose. Be well.
Dr. P

 

It is a good idea to try to fix the nose within the first month after the injury because the nose will have memory of wanting to be straight again.  If you wait after six months the memory of the bone and cartilage will want to be crooked and you will have a higher incidence of needing it revised.  The nose bones can be straightened and the curvatures removed and reconstructed to its pre-injury condition.  This is usually covered under medical insurance as long as the accident has been documented with an x-ray and pictures.  Changing the nose shape would be a rhinoplasty, which is only covered by the patient through cosmetic surgery.  Look for a board-certified facial plastic surgeon that has performed thousands of rhinoplasty surgeries to give you the best results.  An ENT doctor who performs lots of facial cosmetic surgery would be a good option for you.  The average cost of a rhinoplasty is $6,000, which includes the operating room, anesthesia, and the surgeon’s fee for performing the rhinoplasty.