After undergoing rhinoplasty, some patients may notice a cartilage bump on the tip of their nose. This bump can be concerning, as it may appear like a deformity or a mistake made during the surgery. However, it is important to know that this bump is actually a normal part of the healing process and will typically resolve on its own over time. The cartilage bump that forms on the tip of the nose after rhinoplasty is known as a supratip fullness. This occurs when there is swelling or inflammation in the soft tissue and cartilage of the nose following surgery. The body’s natural healing response can cause fluid to accumulate in this area, leading to the appearance of a bump. It is important for patients to understand that the supratip fullness is not a permanent issue. As the swelling and inflammation subside, the bump will gradually diminish and the nose will begin to take on its final shape. This process can take several weeks to several months, depending on the individual’s healing process.During the post-operative period, it is normal for the nose to undergo various changes as it heals. Patients may experience swelling, bruising, and changes in shape as the tissues settle into place. It is important to follow the post-operative care instructions provided by the surgeon to ensure proper healing and to minimize any potential complications.
If a patient is concerned about the appearance of a cartilage bump on the tip of their nose after rhinoplasty, they should consult with their surgeon. The surgeon can evaluate the bump and provide reassurance that it is a normal part of the healing process. In some cases, the surgeon may recommend additional treatments or interventions to help reduce the swelling and speed up the healing process.
In this guide, we review the aspects of Cartilage Bump On Tip Of Nose After Rhinoplasty, red bump on nose after rhinoplasty, hard bump on tip of nose after rhinoplasty, and why does the tip of my nose look big after rhinoplasty.
Cartilage Bump On Tip Of Nose After Rhinoplasty
Hello, I am a rhinoplasty surgeon who has been practicing for over 15 years. I read your question about why you have a cartilage bump on the tip of your nose after having rhinoplasty, and firstly let me reassure you that this is a very common issue for patients to experience postoperatively after undergoing nasal reconstruction. The bump can be caused by several different things including:
- The way your cartilage was altered during your primary rhinoplasty such as spreading (grafting) septal or ear cartilage to create more volume at the tip (Depressor Septi and/or Columellar Strut), causing it to protrude beyond normal parameters;
- One side of your septal and/or alar cartilages were resected during surgery but one side was not;
- Suture material cut through the cartilage resulting in a bump appearing; or
- Bone tissue grew onto suture material which caused irritation or inflammation around the site where it was placed within the nasal cavity.”””
Question:
You may have developed a cartilage bump on the tip of your nose after having rhinoplasty. This can be caused by several different factors, most commonly infection or swelling from surgery.
- Infection: An infection can occur if you pick at healing wounds or touch them too much. If this happens, it is important for you to see your surgeon immediately so that they can prescribe antibiotics and prevent further damage from occurring to surrounding structures in your nose such as cartilage or bone tissue.* Swelling: Swelling after rhinoplasty is normal and will go away over time.*
What causes a cartilage bump on the tip of my nose after having rhinoplasty?
The cartilage bump on your nose could be from several different things. The first thing to determine is whether or not it is a suture cutting through the tip of your septal and/or alar cartilages. If this is the case, then you will need to have another procedure done by your surgeon to remove that suture and smooth everything out.
The other possibility for why there’s a bump on your nose could be because only one side of your septal and/or alar cartilages were resected during rhinoplasty surgery. This often happens when surgeons make an incision along both sides (medial & lateral) but only remove tissue from one side during surgery — usually due to lack of access or visibility in certain areas around those bones.”
Answer:
You may be experiencing a bump on the tip of your nose that is caused by one of the following:
- A suture left behind in your nose. This is a common complication after rhinoplasty surgery and can be easily remedialized through removal of this suture. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort, please call our office immediately so we can schedule an appointment for you to come in and have this taken care of!
- Cartilage grafting during primary rhinoplasty (your first nose job). Some surgeons will use cartilage from other areas within your own body or from another donor source such as cadaver tissue when performing a secondary procedure like revision rhinoplasty. In these cases, it would not be unusual for some small amounts of residual grafts to remain behind after healing has occurred which could result in bumps like yours!
The cartilage bump on the tip of a nose that you are experiencing can be from several different things, including the way your cartilage was altered during your primary rhinoplasty. If you had an open rhinoplasty, it is possible only one side of your septal and/or alar cartilages were resected and one side was not. Also, if your surgeon spread (grafted) your own septal or ear cartilage to create more volume at the tip (Depressor Septi and/or Columellar Strut), sometimes this can cause a bump as well. Finally, it is possible for a suture to cut through the cartilage and result in a bump. I would recommend seeing an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon to feel (palpate) the underlying bone and cartilage to determine what exactly maybe causing this bump.
A bump on the tip of a nose after rhinoplasty could be caused by several different things. The most common causes are:
- The way your septal and alar cartilages were altered during your primary rhinoplasty
- Grafting your own septal or ear cartilage to create more volume at the tip (Depressor Septi and/or Columellar Strut)
It is also possible for a suture to cut through the cartilage and result in a bump. I would recommend seeing an experienced surgeon who can feel (palpate) inside your nose with their fingers to determine exactly what might be causing this problem. If you don’t have insurance coverage for revision surgery, Dr Dass may refer you back home where he has offices available so that he can make sure there won’t be any complications once we begin working together again!
red bump on nose after rhinoplasty
It’s not the greatest outcome to have a nasal bump on your nose after rhinoplasty, but the bigger question is whether this post-surgery bump is permanent? Most often, it’s just the healing process, but sometimes it can be caused by the surgery itself or how your bone heals. Here’s a quick guide.
Depending on the location of the bump, a surgeon will remove it in different ways. A bump in the upper part of the nose is made up of bone while a bump mid to lower nose is made up of cartilage. A bony bump is filed down, but cartilage is cut away. The skin redrapes over the upper half of the nose quicker than the lower half of the nose because the skin is thicker the more you move down the nose, it could take the lower nose a year to a year and a half to show all the changes from a rhinoplasty while the upper part of the nose only takes about six or seven months. Because of this, it may appear that there is a bump when it is actually the swelling or from the skin not being fully re-draped over the nose.
Can a nasal bump or hump go away if it’s not removed?
A nasal bump or hump that is on your nose prior to surgery will not go away on its own. However, a bump or hump that you see after surgery could very well resolve itself, especially if it is in the lower part of the nose.
Think of it this way. When we break our arm and the bone heals, it may develop a little callous on it either from the way it was set or how your bone heals. A surgeon cannot anticipate how a bone will heal, but a bump in the cartilage of the lower half of the nose or at the tip can resolve itself as swelling subsides and skin redrapes.
When should I consider revision rhinoplasty?
I don’t like to do revision rhinoplasty for 8 to 12 months after surgery. If there are issues in the nasal tip, I like to wait a year because the skin is thicker there and we may not see the subtle changes yet. If there are issues in the bridge, I might do a revision in about eight or nine months because the thinner skin in that location allows the skin to redrape faster and we can see what’s actually going on.
I’ve done lots of primary rhinoplasties and since my practice is in Beverly Hills, I see many people who have had their noses overdone, and so it’s very common for me to get lots of requests for revisions. If you have an issue with your nose, or if you’ve had a rhinoplasty and have a secondary problem, call or email me. I help patients like you every day, and I’d love to talk to you, see photographs, and even see you in my office to potentially fix it.
hard bump on tip of nose after rhinoplasty
It’s not the greatest outcome to have a nasal bump on your nose after rhinoplasty, but the bigger question is whether this post-surgery bump is permanent? Most often, it’s just the healing process, but sometimes it can be caused by the surgery itself or how your bone heals. Here’s a quick guide.
Depending on the location of the bump, a surgeon will remove it in different ways. A bump in the upper part of the nose is made up of bone while a bump mid to lower nose is made up of cartilage. A bony bump is filed down, but cartilage is cut away. The skin redrapes over the upper half of the nose quicker than the lower half of the nose because the skin is thicker the more you move down the nose, it could take the lower nose a year to a year and a half to show all the changes from a rhinoplasty while the upper part of the nose only takes about six or seven months. Because of this, it may appear that there is a bump when it is actually the swelling or from the skin not being fully re-draped over the nose.
Can a nasal bump or hump go away if it’s not removed?
A nasal bump or hump that is on your nose prior to surgery will not go away on its own. However, a bump or hump that you see after surgery could very well resolve itself, especially if it is in the lower part of the nose.
Think of it this way. When we break our arm and the bone heals, it may develop a little callous on it either from the way it was set or how your bone heals. A surgeon cannot anticipate how a bone will heal, but a bump in the cartilage of the lower half of the nose or at the tip can resolve itself as swelling subsides and skin redrapes.
When should I consider revision rhinoplasty?
I don’t like to do revision rhinoplasty for 8 to 12 months after surgery. If there are issues in the nasal tip, I like to wait a year because the skin is thicker there and we may not see the subtle changes yet. If there are issues in the bridge, I might do a revision in about eight or nine months because the thinner skin in that location allows the skin to redrape faster and we can see what’s actually going on.
I’ve done lots of primary rhinoplasties and since my practice is in Beverly Hills, I see many people who have had their noses overdone, and so it’s very common for me to get lots of requests for revisions. If you have an issue with your nose, or if you’ve had a rhinoplasty and have a secondary problem, call or email me. I help patients like you every day, and I’d love to talk to you, see photographs, and even see you in my office to potentially fix it.
Why Does The Tip Of My Nose Look Big After Rhinoplasty
After your nose job (rhinoplasty) procedure, swelling of the nose and face is normal and can initially make your nose appear larger. For the first two weeks post-op, the swelling will be quite noticeable. But after the second week, swelling usually subsides and becomes much less obvious. However, the nose can still look a bit “puffy” for several months. By four months post-op, the majority of swelling should dissipate, but it can actually take a full year for all of the swellings to subside allowing you to see the final, true result of your nose job.
Supratip Swelling After Rhinoplasty
Fullness or a bulbous appearance, specifically, of the nasal tip following the rhinoplasty surgery is a complication that can be very disappointing. Fullness over the nose tip is termed “supratip fullness” and can cause the tip of your nose to look like it is drooping, much like a parrot’s beak. The first Dr. Laguna checks are that your surgeon did, in fact, place your nose tip in the proper position.
Proper Positioning of the Nasal Tip During Rhinoplasty
An aesthetically pleasing nose tip should be positioned to lead the dorsum (the external ridge of the nose) by about 1 to 2 mm. Tip support must be appropriately provided so that it maintains its position. An adequately positioned nasal tip resulting from a rhinoplasty that continues to appear droopy well after swelling has subsided due to fullness above the tip is classified as supratip fullness complication. Several factors can lead to this problem, thereby compromising the ideal aesthetic of your nose.
Under resection of the septum just behind the tip
The septum is the wall between your nostrils and acts as the primary central pillar support to the nose. Often, during the rhinoplasty procedure, areas in the septum are removed to eliminate any deviation affecting your breathing. Despite removing septal cartilage, experts must preserve a good amount of septum to maintain the infrastructure support of the nose. This is especially important in the front of the nose, where the nasal tip is often supported on the most projected portion, called the anterior septum. Yet, an area just behind this region needs to be lowered, or it will remain prominent and lead to the supra tip deformity.
Soft tissue fat of the nasal skin
Often nasal skin is fatty, and if not addressed, this fat can blunt the shape of the nasal tip despite surgical maneuvers to refine it. In addition, this fat can fill the area behind the tip resulting in supratip fullness. Ensuring a well-defined nasal tip requires proper defatting of the supratip region during the rhinoplasty procedure.
Memory of the skin shell
The skin of the supratip region often stiffens to a fuller convex-shaped shell over decades of life. Despite removing the underlying structures that have created a fuller supratip region, the skin might not accommodate the new shape. Such cases may require light scoring of the under-surface of the skin. Additionally, during the rhinoplasty procedure, a small internal stitch may assist in pulling the supratip skin down to its newly designed contour. Finally, aggressive taping and an external splint further assist in reforming the shape of the supratip skin shell.