What happened to my nose? (Photo)

Question

My nose didn't look so bad after my cast came off. But now the left side of my nose looks horrible. I will attack a before picture. This is my 2nd surgery and I'm so upset. I just want a normal nose!! I am almost a month post op. I know I have swelling but my nostril issue won't resolve over this. My doctor put a graft in on that side. Is it possible it shifted? What could be done to fix this? I have already got into debt over this. I just want to feel pretty.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

The left alar notching can be improved by putting a new cartilage graft in that area but it is a VERY difficult area to correct. Sometimes getting a small amount of filler in that area is a better option. RegardsDr Janjua

Edward Farrior, MD · Answer

It is my understanding that these photographs represent your nose 1 month after a revision rhinoplasty.  If the alar notching was present before the revision rhinoplasty and did not resolve after surgery either the graft that was placed 2 correct this problem adsorbed, went away, or  an inadequate graft was placed during the surgery.  It is early for a cartilage graft to have adsorbed especially if there were no symptoms of postoperative infection such as pain, tenderness or purulent drainage.  To correct the problem will require a composite graft to add cartilage for structure and the skin to the internal lining of the nose.  Unfortunately as your nose heals  the nostril asymmetry will more than likely become worse.

What happened to my nose? (Photo)

Answers (2)