Did I damage my nose 3 months post op? (photos)

Question

So basically I had a primary rhinoplasty performed about 3 months ago and everything has been great until 4 days ago when I was swimming and accidentally hit my nose on the bottom of the pool floor - not noticing how shallow it was. I got up and there was some blood from my nostrils, not a lot. I'm scared now. I'm not sure if it's swelling or a permanent bump on my nose which I'll need to get fixed when I'm back in town after vacation - another 3 weeks.. I'm worried I damaged my bridge

Bahman Guyuron, MD · Answer

We have demonstrated that the nose that has been operated on is slightly more vulnerable but not to a degree that one should be concerned about. Three months after surgery the nose is stable enough that it is not going to be altered so easily. Since you just had the injury it is likely that you have some swelling. You may want to consult your surgeon in a week or so should the change in your nose persists, which is unlikely.

Ali Sajjadian, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question!

It is understandable that you are
concerned especially with the diving trauma to your nose. At 3 months post-rhinoplasty the bony and cartilaginous structures of your nose should have healed enough to sustain mild to moderate trauma. However, the diving trauma described above warrant a physical examination to provide you with a definitive assessment of the damage if existing.

It is important to keep in mind that it is very much possible that you are experiencing the effect of edema caused by the accident you had.

My best recommendation at the moment is
to communicate with your surgeon and work as a team together to achieve the best
results possible.

Congratulations on your surgery and be safe!

Ali Sajjadian, MD FACS

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

While you don't look like you have anything to worried about, I recommend you see your surgeon just in case.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Evarossi,

After primary rhinoplasty in
which three months have been allowed to pass, in general, the nasal bones and
cartilaginous structures are very stable. 
However, hitting your nose in the fashion you did, with a dive into a
pool with a forcible bump on the bottom of that pool can be a significant
trauma and, as such, there may have been a shifting of the bony and/or
cartilaginous structure.  The
three-quarter view that you showed shows a small bump and if this bump was not
present in the postoperative phase in the last two months it likely represents
a shifting of the bony and cartilaginous structure.

The best advice is to finish your
vacation and not to worry and seek the advice of your operative surgeon, as
there may be some closed reduction techniques that could reduce the displaced
bony and cartilaginous anatomy or, in the worst-case scenario, it may require
operative intervention.

I hope this advice is of some
help.  Best of luck.

Sincerely,

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon,
Yorkville, Toronto

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