Tip of Nose Tender After Septoplasty, Is This Common?

If you septum was accessed via an open approach, then it is completely normal to have some numbness and altered sensation along the tip of your nose for months afterwards.  For an endonasal septoplasty (all incisions within the nose) it would be unusual to have significant alteration of sensation.  Your surgeon will be able to give you the most reassurance with a direct examination.  

In general, almost all noses are numb right after a rhinoplasty. In most cases its the tip that is numb, but this numbness can extend down to the upper lip, and in rare cases some of the teeth. There are nerves that are cut and stretched during a rhinoplasty, and it takes a long time for those nerves to start working again. This is true of an open as well as closed rhinoplasty, although it tends to be more extensive in open rhinoplasty. This could also be more extensive if a septoplasty is performed at the same time. A revision rhinoplasty is a much harder surgery with a lot of internal scarring to cut through. This can also be a reason for prolonged numbness. This, along with the swelling, gives you a stiff, plastic type feel, and can give you an odd smile. However, the nerves will start working and again, and your nose stiffness will go away with time. As the nerves grow back, you may feel some tingling, itchiness and on occasion pain. This takes in most cases months, but can take years in rare cases. Extremely rarely, the numbness is permanent, although I have never seen such as case.Best Wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD

It is not uncommon to have changes in sensation of the skin overlying the nasal tip after nose surgery.  While temporary numbness of the nasal tip is absolutely expected with rhinoplasty (whether done through the open or closed approach), it is less common with septoplasty, though not unheard of.  If it is not painful, red, swollen, or otherwise bothering you, and it is simply numb, I would recommend you forget about it.  In my experience, patients eventually regain sensation of the nasal tip slowly with time (6-12 months).  I expect that you will just wake up at some point months from now, after you've forgotten about the numbness, and realize that your sensation at the nasal tip has returned to normal.

It's very common to have some altered sensations in the tip of the nose after septoplasty or rhinoplasty, whether it is performed as a closed or open procedure. Normally, these sensations are temporary and the feeling returns to normal within a few months. More extensive septoplasty or rhinoplasty procedures will require a longer period time before sensations are back to normal. Speak with your septoplasty surgeon. Only after a comprehensive evaluation can he/she help determine appropriate options for you.