NASAL FORM & FUNCTION
Correction of nasal deviation or asymmetry caused by injury
PROCEDURE
What is Post-Trauma Rhinoplasty?
Post-trauma rhinoplasty is a reconstructive procedure that restores both the function and appearance of the nose after injury. Nasal trauma, whether from sport, a road traffic accident, a fall, or an assault, can fracture the nasal bones, displace the septum, and damage the cartilage that gives the nose its shape and structural support.
Where a straightforward fracture can sometimes be corrected with early realignment, more complex injuries, or those left untreated at the time, often require formal surgical reconstruction. Mr Annakan Navaratnam typically employs an open surgical approach for post-trauma cases, allowing full visualisation of the internal nasal framework during reconstruction.
Addressing nasal injury
The nose is the most prominent feature of the face and, because of its position, the most frequently injured in facial trauma. Damage can affect the nasal bones, the septum, the cartilage of the nasal tip, or a combination of all three.
Left uncorrected, this can result in a visibly crooked or flattened nasal bridge, asymmetry of the tip or nostrils, and persistent nasal obstruction. A post-trauma rhinoplasty rebuilds the damaged structures, using the patient’s own cartilage where needed, to restore a straight, stable and functioning nose.
Am I suitable for post-trauma rhinoplasty?
If you have experienced nasal injury and are left with breathing difficulties, visible deformity, or both, you may be suitable for post-trauma rhinoplasty. This applies whether the injury happened recently or many years ago. There is no cut-off point beyond which correction becomes impossible.
Benefits of post-trauma rhinoplasty include:
At a glance
Surgery time
3 – 5 hours (depending on complexity)
Anaesthetic
General
Time off work
2 weeks
Hospital stay
Day Case
Shower
After 1 day
Reasonable mobility
After 2 days
Exercise
After 6 – 8 weeks
Sleeping on back
4 weeks
Full recovery
6 – 8 weeks
Driving
2 weeks
What to expect
Here you will find some essential information to help you prepare for surgery and the arrangements you should make to ensure you have the support you need and that everything runs smoothly on the day. However, we are on hand to answer any questions you may have.
01. The consultation
Consultation begins with a comprehensive assessment of your nasal injury, including nasoendoscopy to examine the internal structures and, where needed, CT imaging to assess the extent of bony and septal damage. Mr Navaratnam will discuss the history and timing of your injury, your breathing symptoms, and your aesthetic concerns.
Timing matters in post-trauma rhinoplasty. Straightforward fractures assessed within three to four weeks of injury may be suitable for early realignment. More complex trauma, or injuries where swelling has not yet resolved, is usually reconstructed six weeks to three months after injury, once the tissues have stabilised and the full extent of the damage can be properly assessed, though waiting longer (up to a year) is also reasonable if preferred. Older, long-standing injuries can still be corrected, regardless of how much time has passed.
A two-week reflection period follows the initial consultation, during which you can return for additional consultations free of charge.
02. Preparing for surgery
If you decide to proceed, you’ll receive guidance on preparing for surgery, including any pre-surgery tests required.
Mr Navaratnam will advise you on stopping smoking as far in advance of surgery as possible due to its impact on healing, infection risk, and complications during anaesthesia. Guidance on discontinuing blood-thinning medication and fasting before surgery will also be provided.
03. Day of the procedure
Upon arrival at the hospital, you’ll be escorted to a private room, and vital signs will be assessed. Your surgeon will finalise markings, and the anaesthetist will visit you. Clinical photography documents the pre-operative and post-operative phases.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. Depending on the extent of reconstruction required, surgery may involve septal correction, repositioning of the nasal bones, and cartilage grafting from the septum, ear, or occasionally rib, where the original cartilage has been lost or damaged. Once you have recovered sufficiently from anaesthesia, you will be discharged into the care of a friend or family member.
04. Your recovery
You will usually have an external nasal splint over the nose, with internal splints occasionally required to support the septum while it heals. These are typically removed 7 to 10 days after surgery.
Bruising and swelling, especially around the eyes, are common in the first two weeks. Breathing steadily improves as internal swelling subsides over the following months. Because post-trauma reconstruction often involves more extensive rebuilding than primary rhinoplasty, final results can take longer to settle, typically becoming fully apparent 12 to 18 months after surgery.
You are advised to:
- Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated
- Avoid strenuous activity or bending forward for at least two weeks
- Avoid blowing your nose for two weeks
- Be gentle when dressing to avoid touching the nose
- Use saline sprays to keep the nasal passages moist and clean
Most patients resume light activities within a couple of days, though strenuous exercise should be avoided for six to eight weeks and contact sports postponed for at least eight weeks.
