My friend elbowed me and hit the left side of my nose 2 weeks post op. Will there be permanent damage?

Question

yesterday my friend & i were watching tv, he moved his arm really fast and somehow his elbow hit the left side of my nose. I had a rhinoplasty 2 weeks ago. I had the bump reduced & the tip rotated up & smaller nostrils. The pain after my friend hit me lasted for about 2 minutes. It did not bleed either. When I woke up this morning & looked in the mirror, theres a slight bump on my bridge now that wasn't there before. Is this just swelling from my friend hitting me? Or did i ruin my rhinoplasty?

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear jb20,

Thank you for your clinical
post.  Operative septorhinoplasty often
involves manipulation of the nasal bones, in your case reduction of a bump and
some soft tissue cartilage work of the tip. 
Low velocity elbow trauma as you described may cause some malposition of
the sidewall of your osteotomy nasal fracture line which could shift on the
bridge and cause a bump.  Alternatively,
this may just be soft tissue swelling from the injury.

The only way to tell for certain is
to visit your operative surgeon as they are in the best position to advise
having performed the surgery.

The good news is that certainly a
little local anesthesia intra and extra nasally and your operative rhinoplasty
surgeon can reduce the fracture.  I would
advise strongly you visit your operative surgeon for a true intra and extra
nasal examination if possible, closed reduction of a displaced nasal fracture
fragment under local anesthesia.

With prompt attention this should not
compromise your overall aesthetic result.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

To find out more, please visit the
link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear jb20, When these incidents occur it is best to address your concerns with your surgeon. He/she will be able to perform and intra-nasal examination and make a proper diagnosis. You may just have some slight swelling in the tissues from the "elbow to the nose" however it is best to have an examination to put your mind at ease. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

My friend elbowed me and hit the left side of my nose 2 weeks post op. Will there be permanent damage?

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

My friend elbowed me and hit the left side of my nose 2 weeks post op. Will there be permanent damage?

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.