Does Nose Cartilage Heal Itself?

If there is an obvious displacement/fracture involving the cartilaginous portion of the nose, it should not be expected to fix itself without an intervention. Once the immediate swelling goes down (usually in 7-10 days) a thorough external and internal nasal examination is recommended to assess the degree of deformity and segments of the nose involved. Many of such traumas are amenable to a closed reduction procedure (sort of a popping back concept, even though with nose there are no real joint sockets, making the procedure more delicate and tactile based) within the narrow time window. If the window is missed and cartilage (and/or bone) heal in the new non-anatomic position, then later on a full rhinoplasty surgery is often needed to restore form and function. Of note, late cartilage deformity repairs are often more challenging than the bony counterparts and mostly require cartilage grafting techniques.

A depression in the nose after trauma is unlikely to correct itself without surgery. It is possible to break the bones around the nose and cause a change in the shape of the nose. You can also fracture or damage the cartilages of the nose without breaking the actual nasal bones. Be sure to see a surgeon who is qualified to evaluate this issue (such as a facial plastic surgeon) to have this fully evaluated.
All the best,

It is possible that what you are describing is injured cartilage.  Below the nasal bones there are two sets of cartilage, the upper and lower lateral cartilages.  You may have a fractured cartilage or the upper lateral cartilage may have become detached from its attachment to the bone.  In time this may cause trouble breathing through that nostril.  If this is the case, a septorhinoplasty surgery can correct the problem.  If after 1-2 months from the injury, your breathing seems to be unaffected and you are bothered by the appearance of a dent or minor asymmetry, this may be corrected by injecting a filler. The best thing is to be seen by a facial plastic surgeon in person to examine your nose thoroughly to find out whats going on.  

With known trauma to your nose, you may have a cartilage fracture that probably won't improve on its own. It also may be obstructing your breathing. Your best options is to see a facial plastic surgeon who specialized in both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty to they can diagnose your issue and come up with the right surgical plan. Another option is a non-surgical rhinoplasty, using filler to camouflage the dent. Check out the link below to learn about non-surgical rhinoplasty procedures.

Change in the shape of the nose after trauma means there was damage to either the nasal bones or cartilage or both. After swelling is gone, if there is still a dent present it is unlikely for it to correct by itself without surgical repair. Correction may require limited repair or a full septoplasty and rhinoplasty depending on the amount of damage.