Is it possible that my dorsal hump is getting bigger due to my deviated septum? (photos)

Question

I am 23 and have a severely deviated septum. Is it possible that my deviated septum is pushing upon the dorsal hump? Making my nose appear larger/longer and more droopy? I am getting septoplasty in a few weeks. I'm just afraid my nose will continue to grow and elongate even after the surgery . These photos were taken a year apart.

Brian M. Harmych, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for sharing your photograph and questions. The short answer is that a septoplasty is unlikely to change the appearance of the hump. However there is a very small chance that surgical alteration of the nasal septum (septoplasty) may affect the appearance of the dorsal hump even if the hump itself is not altered with surgery. An experienced surgeon could explain this to you in more detail during a consultation. If the hump bothers you at all, my advice to you would be to consider having a septorhinoplasty performed as the primary operation. In either case I would recommend you discuss your concern with your surgeon prior to surgery. Good luck! Dr. Harmych

William Portuese, MD · Answer

A rhinoplasty procedure accomplishes shaving down the dorsal hump, lifting the tip, refining the nasal tip and the bridge line. It's also important to release the depressor septi ligament which pulls the tip down when smiling. Expect to pay for the cosmetic component of the rhinoplasty  yourself. A septoplasty is performed on the internal portion of the nose to help with breathing from obstructed bone and cartilage blocking air flow. A septoplasty will not change the shape of the nose, and is only done for functional purposes. A septoplasty can be billed to the patient's medical insurance once medical necessity has been documented. Both procedures can be done together at the same time under the same anesthetic with the same recovery period. For many examples and more information describing the differences between the 2 procedures, please see the video below

Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS, FICS · Answer

Hi and thanks for your question. A severely deviated septum can certainly affect the appearance of one's nose. However, septal surgery alone does not usually alter the appearance of your nose unless it is combined with a rhinoplasty. These are great questions to address with your surgeon. Best of luck!Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS, FICSTriple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO · Answer

Some dorsal hump could be due to over growth of septum which should stop at puberty. It is this overgrowth that also could be responsible for buckling and deviation of the septum. Septorhinoplasty can correct all these. Best

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

The deviated septum has nothing to do with your hump. I would recommend that you undergo both resection of deviated septum and dorsal hump reduction at the same time. Please remember that nasal surgery of the hump and septum are best treated at the same time as these areas are connected and knowledge of the area of septum resected is an important consideration when lowering the nasal septum when trying to lower the hump.

Edward J. Domanskis, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

As we age, the nose, like a lot of other things, tends to drop, so you may see that it appears elongated. Also, the chin may appear less prominent as our cheeks drop "around" it. These changes occur over years not over one year and the deviated septum shouldn't have anything to do with the droop. You may consider having the droop corrected at same time that you have your breathing corrected which I do quite frequently.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

A deviated septum will not cause growth of a dorsal hump. At age 23 your nose is fully grown. I would suggest that you have the septum corrected and the hump removed at the same time if that hump bothers you.

David Alessi, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi Siller92, Your nose stops growing after puberty so it is not actually getting bigger.  If you are looking to change the external appearance of your nose your surgeon will also need to perform a rhinoplasty, not just a septoplasty.  An ENT who is also board certified in plastic surgery would be able to address both issues simultaneously.  Best wishes.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Siller92, Your nose stops growing at puberty so at age 23 you should not see any more growth. A septorhinoplasty will take care of both your deviated septum and the aesthetic changes you may want. Your nose will not grow after the surgery. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Dennis Barek, MD (retired) · Answer

At 23 there is no nasal growth.What you have is a long, convex dorsum with a low radix, along with an acute nasolabial angle. There might also be inadequate tip projection, once the dorsum is lowered and tip raised. All of this can be corrected by an expert surgeon at this time.The photos are not equal in dimension and pose, so there is little evidence to support nasal growth.

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