Does soft nose cartilage mean cartilage deterioration?

Question

My nose has gotten softer from the repeated punches and floor landing in Taekwondo classes. Now that I'm 19, I see that my nose is crooked to one side and the cartilage is soft. When I push on my tip it can go almost all the way to the hard part of my nose. I'm wondering if my nose cartilage is deteriorating from all the rough treatment. What rhinoplasty would be recommended to make sure my nose doesn't collapse and will fix the crookedness?

Richard W. Westreich, MD · Answer

Based on the mechanism of injury, it is likely that you have fractured or at least injured the cartilage of the septum. That can cause a general loss of nasal support, as well as deviation. If bony fracture is also present, the deviation will be more pronounced. Without an examination I cannot say what type of surgery you would need. However, I would say that getting it fixed would only make sense if you were no longer being hit in Taekwando classes. The reconstructed nose will still fracture if hit repeatedly, and then correcting it a second time will be extremely difficult.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  Based on your description, you may benefit from a columellar strut graft and suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose.  Cartilage grafts may also be used to help improve tip refinement. The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with.   I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.Best wishes and good luck.Richard G. Reish, M.D.Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

With repeated trauma you may have damaged a lot of the supporting structure of the nose including the septum. You would need to be evaluated in person.

Dennis Barek, MD (retired) · Answer

In order to get a reliable answer to your question, you need a full consultation with an expert in rhinoplasty. There is little useful information that can be given at this point in time.

Does soft nose cartilage mean cartilage deterioration?

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