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.

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.

You may have a cartilage collapse and if this is causing cosmetic or breathing concerns, you may need a surgical correction. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian

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.

The nasal bones and nasal cartilage will heal themselves after a traumatic injury, but they will heal in the position that they are in.  If you are noticing a change in the shape of your nose, it is likely that either the bones and/or cartilage were injured and are not aligned properly, and need to be re-aligned.  This generally needs to be done within the first few weeks after the trauma before things start to heal and become fixed in their new position.  After this time frame, a rhinoplasty is usually needed to fix the problem, and the nose should generally be allowed to heal for 6 months to a year before the surgery in order to get the best results.