I was recently punched in the face and although I was not hit in the nose, the mid side of my nose on the cartilage seems a little dented. Will this heal or should I consider getting the dent fixed?
Does Nose Cartilage Heal Itself?
Doctor Answers 10
It would be difficult to "dent" nasal cartilage from trauma to the face. You can cut or tear cartilage and overtime cartilage can warp, but a punch to the nose would be very difficult to cause a permanent bend. The septal cartilage within your nose can fracture and result in a dented look to the bridge of the nose, as well as breaking the connection between the bone and the septum. To find out which of these categories you fit into, or if you have just broken the nasal bones you should visit a plastic surgeon so they can examine your nose and come up with the correct treatment for you. Unfortunately, cartilage that has been cut, torn, or warped with not fix itself over time, but there are surgeries that can correct the problem.
From what you describe, you may have a problem with the position of your nasal cartilage after the trauma to the face. You would benefit from consulting with a rhinoplasty specialist to see if a procedure needs to be done to fix the dent.
Web reference: http://www.quatela.com/procedures/face/rhinoplasty
You may have a cartilage collapse and if this is causing cosmetic or breathing concerns, you may need a surgical correction.
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Web reference: http://www.kareplasticsurgery.com
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If you notice the dent and can see a nose specialist within the week of trauma, the facial plastic surgeon or ENT doctor may be able to move it back to its normal position if it is due to bone movement. If not, wait for all the swelling to come down and you may benefit from a small procedure to help reshape the nose.
Best,
Dr. Zoumalan
Allow some time (about 6 months) to see how it heals. A minor dent might benefit from a non surgical rhinoplasty.
Web reference: http://www.drkrisreddy.com/West_Palm_Beach_Rhinoplasty.html
If all you have is a superficial dent, the easiest way to address this is by using filler material such as Radiesse or Restylane. You should have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon or ENT to verify that there is no internal or structural damage.
Your nose had to have some impact or the cartilage would not have been affected. The cartilage will heal and the swelling will go down for several months after the injury. The dent may become less or more noticeable at that time but why not wait 6 months to see how it all turns out before having anything done?
Web reference: http://www.drfpalmer.com
After a traumatic injury to the cartilage of the nose, it is doubtful that the cartialge will regenerate itself. You can either fill in the dent with a filler such as Radiesse or a hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane). This is easily done in an office setting with a little local anesthesia with minimal recovery.
However, if this does not work or you do not want to deal with the periodic injections, then a small surgical procedure with a cartilage graft can be done. Usually, a piece of cartilage from the septum or the ear can be used to fill in the dent and this is longer lasting if not permanent.
Dear Angela,
A slight dent in your nose after a trauma can usually be improved with an injectable filler and topical anesthetic. There is no downtime, and the procedure is painless.
I attached a link to my photos of non-surgical rhinoplasty. Filling in small dents in the nose without surgery are commonly performed procedures.
I don't think you'll see improvement without any intervention.
Let me know if I could be of further assistance to you.
Best regards.
Web reference: http://ericmjoseph.com/index.cfm/ProcedureNameID/731/PageID/4141
trauma to the nose in creative fracture of the cartilage, or a fracture the nasal bones. If the cartilage is dented inward this may be a result that it is been fractured off of the nasal bones. It is important to make sure there is no associated structural damage internally to the nose. Also important to document the fracture indication he decide to have it fixed and repaired. It also a good idea to wait 3-4 months for most of the swelling to subside before entertaining the idea of considering having it fixed.
Web reference: http://www.seattlefacial.com/photogallery/rhinoplasty_photos24.html
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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