What Happens when One Bumps the Nose After Rhinoplasty?

If one has had trauma to the nose after rhinoplasty, you need to be evaluated by your rhinoplasty surgeon. If there is trauma with no bleeding, usually there is no consequence. If you may have fractured your nose then you may need to have operative intervention.

                  The
nose is a relatively fragile structure that’s prone to injury because of its
location. After rhinoplasty it takes about six to eight weeks for the nose to
regain most of the pre-operative strength. During this period the nose is very
susceptible to injury if bumped. If the impact is severe, the nasal bones may
actually be displaced and this might result in the need
for secondary revisional surgery.

                  For
this reason, we ask patients to avoid situations that might result in trauma
for at least eight weeks following rhinoplasty. Patients should avoid contact
sports and other activities where the nose is at risk. In patients who can’t
avoid these situations, rhinoplasty should be delayed until they are able to
protect their nose. 

After a rhinoplasty, the nose is very delicate and must heal carefully. Often, the nasal bones are broken during a rhinoplasty. It takes several weeks for the bones to heal solidly in place. If it is bumped before it is fully healed, it might shift the bones thus changing the appearance.
Also, small bumps may form after trauma to the nose. If the nose is injured severe enough to cause a small chip fracture in the bone, or break in the cartilage, then it is possible that there may be irregular bone and/or cartilage growth during the healing process.
If the nose is injured, it is normal for there to be swelling. This is usually not severe and will resolve over a week or two.

Once you are well healed from a rhinoplasty (1 year on average) you do not have to protect your nose. If you get hit on the nose the most important thing is to make sure you do not have a 'septal hematoma'. That is a collection of blood inside the nasal septum (the partitioning wall that separates your nose into two halves. The way you can tell if it happens is inability to breathe through your nose. This is an emergency and you must see a doctor the same day or go to an E.R.
If you are able to breathe well but nose has some swelling, apply ice and wait for the swelling to go down over the next few days. After 3 days if the nose looks crooked, then you should see a physician.
The small bumps could be changes in the cartilage with time that can show through the skin. If it is very obvious then it can be removed by shaving down the cartilage bumps as an office procedure or in the operating room.
Please remember the advice here cannot subsitute a thorough examination in person.
Regards!

Your nose may be a more fragile organ, after Cosmetic Rhinoplasty. Especially if you had a bump removed with osteotomies.

If you would like more specific information about your nose, you should consult with your surgeon. Hope this helps.Dr Joseph

My general recommendation after rhinoplasty is to avoid contact, bumps, or any form of trauma for a minimum of 6 weeks. The reason: the nasal bones are frequently broken with a maneuver known as osteotomies during rhinoplasty and 6 weeks is the general time to allow for fibrous healing of the nasal bones. Any trauma during this period could potentially shift or move the position of the nose. During this early period of healing, lymphatic outflow is reasonably compromised, making the nose more susceptible to swelling.
After this initial period, the nose is set in place and the scar tissue that has developed will usually prevent shifts in nasal position. However, nasal trauma in the region of the nasal bones may cause a phenomenon known as periosteal remodelling. The periosteum is the lining of the bone and trauma to it can cause new bone formation or, in lay terms, "lumps". This can occur in patients who have had rhinoplasty and in those that have never had surgery.
I hope this is helpful

The likelihood of damaging your nose after rhinoplasty depends on how far out from your operation you are, and whether the nasal bones were broken (with osteotomies) during your rhinoplasty. It takes 6-8 weeks for your bones and soft tissues to heal to maximum strength. If you bump your nose during this time period, especially early on, you are more likely to move your bones, cartilage, etc and should definitely be evaluated by your rhinoplasty surgeon. After 2 months, your nose is back to regular strength, like a normal nose, but you may still break your nose if you hit it hard enough. This typically is evident with bleeding and sometimes with deviation of the nose. If in doubt, ask your surgeon. Once the trauma happens, swelling is normal and there is nothing you can do to change the course of events, even if you use ice or other measures to try to limit swelling. Hope that makes sense!
-David Mattos, Harvard trained plastic surgeon

After a rhinoplasty, the nose has to be hit relatively hard enough to be able to shift or fracture the nose. Just small bumps to the nose in the first month after the surgery will elicit pain and tenderness. No further surgery will be indicated unless there is an obvious nasal fracture and twisting of the nose after any injury.

A nose that recently underwent a rhinoplasty is more prone to break early after surgery. One has to be careful for the first 6 -8 weeks.  Small bumps after banging nose may simply be swelling that usually goes away with time.

Are these hypothetical questions? A slight 'bump' will produce no problems. Hitting the steering wheel will makean alteration to shape. Ideally, have your rhinoplasty and don't injure it in any way ever. Simple. No need to hit your nose ever.