A Crooked Nose: One Reason for Rhinoplasty

What causes a crooked nose and how can one be fixed with Rhinoplasty?

There are many reasons noses may be crooked, twisted, or asymmetrical. Sometimes a crooked nose is a congenital irregularity or malformation which may or may not interfere with proper nasal functioning.  At other times, an injury is the cause of the problem. The patient may have fallen facedown, suffered a sports injury, or been punched in the nose, during a boxing match, an assault or an altercation. Whatever the reason for an individual’s crooked nose, it may require surgery to restore proper breathing and/or for aesthetic reasons. In either case, the best choice of surgeon for the job is a physician who specializes in nasal surgery and knows the nose, literally, inside and out.

What Must Be Done to Repair a Crooked Nose?

Repairing a crooked nose may be a more complex procedure than some other types of rhinoplasty, such as removing a bump. This is because the asymmetry typically involves a deviation of the bony upper third and/or the cartilaginous lower two-thirds of the nose, and because, in many cases, the operation involves restoring balance and proportion as well as correcting nasal function. In almost all cases, the septum (the wall dividing the nostrils) is part of the problem. The crooked appearance of the nose may also be accompanied by an irregular sinus construction which must be corrected or a nasal obstruction that must be removed.

Difficulties in Straightening a Crooked Nose

While nose jobs are always a good deal easier for the patient than for the surgeon, repairing a crooked nose requires special expertise on the part of the doctor. The task is made more challenging by the fact that the deviated cartilage and bone has a tendency to drift back towards its pre-operative position. The operation is also complicated by the fact that crooked noses frequently occur on a face which is asymmetrical in other ways. This makes it difficult for the surgeon to establish the true midline of the face when trying to place the nose in its natural central position.In order to straighten the nose, the nasal septum must be repositioned, along with the nasal bones. This is necessary because if the septal deviation is not addressed, it may continue to exert pressure to push the nose off center. Furthermore, when a crooked nose has resulted from physical trauma, nasal bones are typically shifted. This means that, unless treated at the time of the injury, the bones will heal in a crooked position. Typically, six weeks after the injury, controlled bone cuts, (osteotomies) can be performed by the surgeon, and the nose can be properly repaired.If you have a crooked nose, either from birth or as the result of a traumatic injury, you should contact a highly experienced surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty to discuss your options. You can also see our crooked nose before and after gallery to see the work of Dr. Tobias.