After a dorsal hump is removed, can the hump grow back?

I have definitely seen a dorsal hump grow back after rhinoplasty surgery! It is more common if the hump was simply rasped down to minimize it, as opposed to nasal bone osteotomies or fracture. It can however occur after any type of rhinoplasty if there is significant bony callus deposition.

After a dorsal hump removal, it's generally rare for the hump to "grow back" as the removed bone and cartilage don’t regenerate. However, it's possible to feel a small hard bump due to post-surgical swelling, scar tissue formation, or a callus forming along the bone edges as they heal. In some cases, bone remodeling or scar tissue may lead to a minor irregularity that feels similar to a hump. If the bump persists or causes concern, a follow-up with your surgeon can help determine if it's part of the healing process or if further treatment is recommended.

Hello,

What happens is patients can see the nose with swelling and then patients think they see the bump again. It is important to pick a surgeon that sees everything and is very technical.

Hello and thank you for your question. For a residual bony prominence after surgery, I don’t recommend having rasping performed under local anesthesia. This will usually make the nose look better for 1-2 months and then it will actually get much worse long-term afterwards, with contour irregularities developing. This is because the skin of the dorsum is extremely thin. A much better approach is to do a formal revision with rasping and placement of a dorsal onlay fascial graft to help smooth the dorsum. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Swelling may make it hard to know if hump completely removed. After a few months, usually about 3, all swelling is resolved and dorsal lines should be smooth. If feel a slight bump, you may need additional rasping in the area.