Is Nose Hump Made of Flexible Cartilage or Bone?

Question

I have a prominent hump on the bridge of my nose. I am aware the cartilage can be formed into different shapes over time, so I have been pressing on the bump continually for days. is it actually made of bone because I am getting zero results. In fact the hump seems to be getting larger.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

The top of many dorsal humps are at the bony - cartilaginous junction of your nasal bridge. In our practice, we may use Joseph saws to remove the bony portion of the hump, and a blade to lower the cartilaginous part of the hump. Hope this helps. Dr Joseph

Houtan Chaboki, MD · Answer

Improving the hump or bump on the nose is one of the most common rhinoplasty requests. This bump is normally made of both bone and cartilage. Pressing on the nose itself will not reduce the hump, unless one presses hard enough to break the nose. Rhinoplasty surgery is required to reduce the nasal hump. Speak with a rhinoplasty surgeon to help determine appropriate options for you.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Anon,

	All the rubbing in the world will not make a nasal hump smaller, in fact as in your case it may appear slightly larger from the constant irritation.  Usually the major portion of a nasal dorsal hump is cartilage with bone also contributing.  To reduce the hump, rhinoplasty is required.

	Good luck and be well.

	Dr. P

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Pressing on the nasal hump is unlikely to do anything other than give you a sore nose. The "hump" is as Dr. Pearlstein noted, usually the confluence of bony and cartilaginous nasal dorsum. The nasal bones, septum, and upper lateral cartilages fuse in this area. It is sometimes more of a bone issue and sometimes primarily cartilage. Depending on the size of the bump, its removal may require a scalpel and osteotome (chisel), or a rasping device. Removal of a dorsal hump often necessitates in-fracturing of the nasal bones in order to avoid a flat appearance to the top of the nose. Rhinoplasty is definitely a procedure that requires finesse and expertise, so ask around before committing.

Steven J. Pearlman, MD, FACS · Answer

In most people, the highest point of a nasal hump is actually the junction between bone and cartilage. These are both rigid structures and need to both be addressed in nasal hump removal. Reducing the bone is by using a special surgical rasp or an osteotome (looks like a chisel). Reducing the cartilage is by using a special scissors and/or a surgical blade.

Oakley Smith, MD, FRCSC · Answer

In fact its more cartilage than bone. You can't change the shape by pressure. Over time cartilage can change shape. Its thought to be due to continued slow growth possibly accelerated by injury. Short of surgery there isn't any way to change the shape.

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

Certainly, no rhinoplasty surgeon is surprised that you did not achieve any noticable advantageous reduction in the size of your nasal hump. The observation of your hump getting larger is due to some soft tissue swelling (skin, muscle layer etc) as a result of your manipulations. This will be temporary.

	Humps  of the nose are made of bone and cartilage, at least in 99% of "original" noses. For the next decade(s), only surgical rhinoplasty can remove a hump although other (temporary) non-surgical options for hump camouflage do exist for selected patients.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

It's made of both. Generally, the only time that the cartilage can be molded is during the first 3 months of life. Although there may be some way to manipulate the bone and caritlage content of the nose non-surgically in the future, it does not exist for now.

David C. Pearson, MD · Answer

A dorsal hump, as it's called, is usually both cartilage and bone.

	More to the point, though, nasal cartilage simply cannot be altered by pressing on it, pinching it, clamping it, etc. I'm not sure where you got the notion that it can be "formed into different shapes over time" but, sadly, it cannot. [Caveat: some rare exceptions might apply in newborn babies.]

	The only way to get rid of the hump is surgically (rhinoplasty), unfortunately. It can sometimes be camouflaged non-surgically with fillers, too, at the expense of an overall larger nose.

	All the best,

	--DCP

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD · Answer

A nasal hump is made of both bone and cartilage.  However, the amount of bone or cartilage will differ based on each individual. The only way to smooth out a hump is through surgery.

Is Nose Hump Made of Flexible Cartilage or Bone?

Answers (15)

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