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.