Is There A Way To Fix My Broken Nose?

If you’ve ever hurt your nose, chances are you were more concerned about the significant swelling after the impact than about getting it repaired. However, it’s important to have an injured nose checked as soon as possible so that it can be repaired quickly if it’s broken. But is there a way to fix a broken nose?

What Is A Broken Nose?

A broken nose is a fracture of the nasal bones or cartilage. The nose is particularly susceptible to injury due to its prominent position in the middle of the face, so nasal fractures are quite common. A nasal fracture often occurs as a result of a motor vehicle accident, sports-related trauma, or fall.

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Symptoms Of A Broken Nose

A nasal fracture can lead to swelling of the nose and cheeks, nosebleed, and bruising beneath the eyes. A broken nose can also result in breathing difficulties or nasal stuffiness, because the injury can cause the nasal bones to move out of position and obstruct the airways.

Diagnosing A Broken Nose

Doctors usually diagnose a broken nose by carrying out a physical examination of the nose to assess the visible swelling and bruising.They also take note of any abnormality in the shape and symmetry of the nose. An X-ray is usually not required when making a diagnosis.

Is There A Way To Fix My Broken Nose

If your nose is fractured and has become misshapen, rhinoplasty can fix it for you. A mild nasal fracture can heal without surgery over time.However, a severe fracture typically requires surgery,otherwise, the nose may become crooked.

Rhinoplasty also known as nose surgery, is a surgical procedure that is done to adjust the shape, size, or position of the nose.

Although many people undergo rhinoplasty simply to enhance the cosmetic appearance of their nose, rhinoplasty is also done to repair a broken nose by realigning the nasal bones and reshaping the nose.

Rhinoplasty Techniques

Closed Rhinoplasty: All the incisions for closed rhinoplasty are made inside the nostrils, so there is no visible scar after healing. This approach is suitable for people requiring minimal correction, because the surgical openings are narrow.

Open Rhinoplasty: Unlike closed rhinoplasty, open rhinoplasty includes an incision on the columella (cartilage between the nostrils). This trans-columellar incision connects the incisions in the left and right nostrils and provides greater accessibility to the nasal framework. Consequently, extensive correction can be carried out with open rhinoplasty.

Repairing Your Nose With Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure that is typically performed under general anesthesia for optimal patient comfort. The surgery lasts about 2-3 hours.

In cases where the shape of the nose is being changed the surgeon will make the incisions, lift the skin, and then sculpt the underlying cartilage and bone to create the desired shape. The skin is re-draped over the nose after the necessary adjustments have been made.

After surgery, a splint may be placed inside the nostrils to hold the nose in the new position. The splint is normally removed within a week of surgery.

Recovery After Rhinoplasty

There is typically bruising and swelling after rhinoplasty, and this can take several weeks to resolve. Much of the swelling subsides within 3 weeks of surgery, but some swelling may persist for up to one year.

Recovery after rhinoplasty varies depending on the extent of the procedure, and the technique used. There is usually less post-operative swelling after the closed technique since there is no external incision, so recovery may be shorter. Patients are typically able to resume regular activities within 7-14 days of rhinoplasty, but strenuous activities should be avoided for at least 6 weeks.

Tips For Recovering After Rhinoplasty

Proper post-operative care of the nose is necessary if patients want to get the best possible results after rhinoplasty. Below are 5 tips to ensure smooth healing.

1. Avoid Blowing Your Nose: It is normal for the nose to feelstuffy and congested in the weeks following surgery, due to the swelling of the nasal tissues. However, doctors advise patients to avoid blowing their nose for at least 1 week as it may cause bleeding.

2. Keep Your Head Elevated: Patients are advised to sleep with their head elevated forat least 1 week after surgery to help minimize swelling.

3. Rest: It is important to get as much rest as possible in the first few days after rhinoplasty, as this helps the healing process.

4. Eat a Balanced Diet: Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water will boost the immune system and assist with healing.

5. Follow the instructions of your surgeon: Patients that closely follow the post-operative instructions of their plastic surgeon generally heal quickly, and experience few or no complications.

Rhinoplasty And Facial Harmony

Non Surgical Rhinoplasty is a delicate, highly specialized surgery that requires both medical judgment and artistry to achieve natural-looking results. The goal of rhinoplasty is not only to repair the nose but to ensure facial harmony. Consequently, changes made to the nose must be done in consideration of the other facial features, so as to maintain or enhance facial harmony.

Rhinoplasty Consultation

If you are considering rhinoplasty to fix your broken nose, consult with a facial plastic surgeon with significant experience performing nose surgery.

It’s a good idea to carry along photos taken before your nasal fracture to your consultation. This will assist your surgeon in creating an appropriate surgical plan to restore your nose, as he/she will be able to see what your nose looked like before the injury.

During the initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will also provide a clear understanding of what to expect with nose surgery, because it’s important to have realistic expectations. Your surgeon will also outline possible risks and complications.

Would you like to learn more about rhinoplasty? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.