A small bump has formed on my nose tip 5 and a half months after surgery, what could this be? Shifting cartilage grafts? (photo)

If you had a tip graft, it is possible that it shifted:  ask your surgeon about this.  As the swelling goes down in your tip (this takes 6 months to a year), you will see more of the cartilage structure).  You should not be going to tanning beds anyway, but the tanning bed did not cause this.  Make sure to go to all of your followup appointments!Best Wishes!

This bump is likely the shape of the cartilages in your nose--sometimes as the swelling goes down, it becomes easier to see the edges of the cartilage in the tip of your nose. If that's the case, it likely won't get much better on its own. Discuss with your surgeon if they think that's what it is and what the best plan from here is!

Thanks for your question . Although cartilage transplants seldom undergo considerable shifting beyond five months, it is not completely out of the question. The following are some possible reasons for a hump on the tip of your nose after rhinoplasty:
Residual Swelling: Particularly in regions with more fragile tissues, residual swelling may persist even after five months.
Scar Tissue: Sometimes, while your body recovers, scar tissue forms, which might cause abnormalities.
Minor Graft Displacement: Although less frequent at this point, minor graft movements are nevertheless possible.
Effects of Tanning:
Overexposure to the sun, especially using tanning beds, can harm skin health and healing. Avoiding tanning beds and direct sunlight is crucial, particularly in the early stages of recuperation.it also can make your incision dark.
To discuss the bump, speak with your board-certified plastic surgeon. They are able to look closely at your nose and fix the problem.
Hope this was helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr Ali Sajjadian
TRIPLE Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

It’s not uncommon to notice subtle changes in the nose several months after surgery, but the bump you're feeling could be due to a few different factors. It’s possible that the hardness or pointy sensation could relate to swelling or scar tissue formation, which can still occur even 5-6 months post-op. Though cartilage grafts are typically stable by this point, some minor shifts can still happen, especially if there’s pressure on the area. Tanning itself likely isn’t the direct cause, but UV exposure can affect healing skin. It’s best to consult your surgeon for a proper assessment to ensure everything is healing well and to determine if the bump will resolve on its own.

Thanks so much for this question and the photos. The recovery period following a rhinoplasty can sometimes feel like a roller coaster ride with a variety of changes to your nose throughout the process. We typically tell patients to expect around 12 months of healing after rhinoplasty, though the majority of that is done in the first 2-3 months.
To answer your initial question, it is unlikely that this is anything you did and I can't imagine a tanning bed would cause this issue. Given the timing this developed, I would say it could be acute swelling or even an infection of that area, though hard to tell as you would typically expect some redness if infected. I would certainly let your surgeon know and they may want to feel that area as well and determine if fluid or something that may benefit from antibiotics or steroids. As far as movement of the cartilage grafts, this can certainly happen, though I typically see this as a gradual change rather than something that happens overnight.
My guess is that this improves with time, but if it doesnt over the next few days to weeks I certainly think evaluation by your surgeon would be warranted. They can sometimes consider injecting steroid to help if they feel its swelling or scar tissue.
Hope this helps and best of luck with your rhinoplasty recovery! Kyle Kimura, MD

Hello Alli and thank you for your question.

Although an exam in person is ideal, from your photographs alone it appears that either some of your tip cartilage, possibly a placed graft, or maybe a suture prominence is the cause of the prominence at your tip. Structures can shift in the nose postoperatively, and complications like this can happen to any surgeon. The good news is that it can be most likely remedied with a revision procedure where the tip cartilage is modified, a soft tissue graft is placed, the prominent segment is excised, or another possible surgical maneuver. Though it is unlikely to "go away" as you stated, I would wait for further swelling to subside, before addressing this surgically. Sometimes, if this is addressed too early, it can be over-corrected as swelling has not come down completely.

In the interim, an injectable filler can be placed in the "infratip" area, just below the prominence, to camouflage the prominence and improve the aesthetics and overall symmetry of the tip.

Please address this with your plastic surgeon.

For more information on rhinoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon