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How to Correct a Crooked Nose After Rhinoplasty Surgery

Many patients experience a crooked nose after rhinoplasty. It affects their self-esteem and also scares them about whether the surgery will fail. They also fear that it’ll not go away anytime soon or that they’ll live with it throughout their life. So, is it normal?

Yes, it’s normal and a part of the healing process of rhinoplasty. The swelling, scar tissue formation, and imperfections of the surgical techniques used can cause your nose to bend more on one side, making it look uneven. 

Your nose comes back in shape after a few months when the swelling gets better. However, if it persists and doesn’t improve over time, there are some of the best surgical and non-surgical treatments; let’s discuss.  

Is Crooked Nose After Rhinoplasty Normal?

Is Crooked Nose After Rhinoplasty Normal

Experiencing a crooked nose after rhinoplasty is totally normal and is caused by the swelling, scar tissue buildup, and the mistakes made in the surgical approach. When the nose is healed and the swelling subsides, your nose will come back in shape. The swelling stays for at least 6 months, though, but the more it reduces, the better your nose shape gets.

Causes Of Crooked Nose After Rhinoplasty

There are different causes of the nose leaning to one side after rhinoplasty.

Causes Of Crooked Nose After Rhinoplasty

Scar Tissue Formation

During the healing process, sometimes the body creates extra cartilage in the nose. That pulls the nasal structure in different directions, making it look uneven, leaning to one side more. 

You can prevent it by gently massaging your surgical area in the way your surgeon instructed.  Be gentle, and also handle it with full care as it’s a sensitive area.

Swelling

You experience excessive swelling in the first days after the surgery, which gives your nose an uneven appearance. 

The nose asymmetry keeps getting better along with the subsiding of the swelling, which can take around 6 months to fully disappear. To prevent swelling, you can use cold compresses, keep your head elevated and follow all the instructions given by your surgeon.

Surgical Technique

How the surgeons perform the surgery and the techniques they use to reshape your nose affect its shape. Even if the surgery goes well, there may be some imperfections or minor mistakes because of which the nose looks crooked after rhinoplasty. 

Existing Crookedness

If you’ve had a bent nose by birth or it happened due to any injury, then the surgery may not correct it fully. Some crooked parts may still stay even after the first surgical procedure.

Healing Variations

Every person has a different pace and way of healing. Some may experience a more asymmetrical nose after rhinoplasty, while some may experience it less. With healing, it gets better over time.

Normal Crookedness Of the Nose After Rhinoplasty

Normal Crookedness Of the Nose After Rhinoplasty

If your nose has the following conditions after the rhinoplasty, then it’s completely normal:

  • Minor nostril unevenness: It’s normal if one nostril looks a little different from the other right after surgery. As your nose heals, things usually even out on their own.
  • Swelling that fades with time: Some puffiness is expected, and it might come and go. It typically gets better little by little.
  • Slight changes in shape: When your nose is a bit unusual, it is a part of the healing, and it’ll get better over time.

How To Correct the Asymmetry Of the Nose?

How To Correct the Asymmetry Of the Nose

If an uneven nose doesn’t improve over time, you can try out these surgical and non-surgical treatments to correct it.

Surgical Treatments

  • 1. Revision Rhinoplasty

If your nose continues to stay crooked even after months or a year, revision rhinoplasty is the solution. This is a procedure that reshapes your nose, fixes its deformities, and makes it straighter, refined, and even.

We recommend you choose an experienced surgeon to do it, as it’s a complex procedure and needs to be done skillfully.

  • 2. Septoplasty

Septoplasty is a procedure that is mainly used to fix the deviated septum for patients who have trouble breathing or with restricted airflow. It’s an internally done procedure that fixes your nose from within, and hence it can be great for scar tissue formation.

To fix the crookedness of the nose, it’s often combined with rhinoplasty.

Non-Surgical Treatments

  • 1. Dermal Fillers

Dermal filler is a non-surgical treatment for the asymmetry of your nose. In it, the fillers are injected into your nose that fill up the bumps, dents, and smooth out the nose, making your nose temporarily look balanced and even. It’s quick, non-invasive, and also has minimal downtime. But the results last only 6 to 12 months.

  • 2. Strategic Makeup

If you need to attend any function where you want your nose to immediately look refined and straight, you can use strategic makeup techniques.

Different makeup techniques are used to create the illusion of a straight, more refined nose, even when it has deformities. It’s a temporary escape and the best way to feel confident in the gathering without any surgical process.

Asli Tarcan Clinic: Feel Confident With Refined Nose

A Crooked nose after rhinoplasty is totally normal and subsides when your nose is healed. The swelling, imperfections in the surgical methods used, and the natural healing process of the body can make your nose look uneven.

It resolves on its own, though, when the swelling subsides. However, if it persists for a longer time, you can consider non-surgical treatments to fix it, such as dermal fillers and strategic makeup. 

For permanent results, you can consider the surgical treatments for the asymmetrical nose after rhinoplasty that include revision rhinoplasty and septoplasty. 

You can take the revision rhinoplasty along with the septoplasty from Asli Tarcan Clinic at affordable rates, with high safety standards, and post-care tips and follow-up sessions. 

With board-certified surgeons, we help you get a straighter, refined nose by fixing its deformities and crookedness. Contact us today.

Dr Umit Taskin

This article is medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Umit Taskin (E.N.T. Surgeon)

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Frequently asked questions

Does a crooked nose go back to normal?

Yes, it gets normal when the swelling fades, which could take some months.

What to do if your nose is crooked after rhinoplasty?

It’s normal after the rhinoplasty surgery. Wait for a couple of months till the swelling goes away, which will also correct the appearance of your nose. If even after a year you have this issue, then you should talk to your surgeon.

Is it normal for the nose to be uneven after rhinoplasty?

Yes, initial crookedness is completely normal after the rhinoplasty. It resolves when the swelling subsides.

How long does it take for the nose to straighten after rhinoplasty?

It may take up to 6 months to see your nose in shape again after the rhinoplasty.

See Also: Rhinophyma Nose

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