Nasal fracture and broken nose treatment Boston are common. Research shows that the nose is the facial bone that suffers more breaks than any other. And for those who play sports – particularly basketball, football, boxing or martial arts – the risk of breaking their nose is increased.

According to a Harvard Medical School report, the most common causes of nasal fractures are contact sports, car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and violent assaults.

Along with workplace injuries and falls, these are just some of the reasons patients get immediate broken nose treatment in emergency rooms or reach out to a plastic surgeon at a later date.

The Harvard report’s authors outline the most common symptoms of a broken nose including:

  • Bruising
  • Swelling and tenderness around the nose
  • Nosebleeds
  • A deformed twisted or crooked nose
  • Blockage of one or both nostrils
  • A deviated septum
  • A bruise-like discolouration under the eyes.

Perhaps because they are unsure of how serious their injuries might be, some people suffering from a nose injury don’t immediately seek medical help – or visit a plastic surgeon at any stage.

Visiting a plastic surgeon immediately ensures they can assess the damage and in some cases perform a non-invasive procedure known as a closed reduction.

A closed reduction is a relatively simple procedure that repositions the nasal bones soon after the injury has been sustained and is often enough to solve the problem.

But if symptoms persist, or any treatment has been delayed, a patient may see other longer-term health issues develop.

These include a stuffy or blocked nose that can cause impaired breathing, poor sleep and a reduction in overall wellbeing as well as problems that can arise from having a newly misaligned nose like a loss of confidence and self esteem.

People who believe they have damaged their nose, and didn’t seek immediate medical treatment, may wish to seek the advice of a board-certified plastic surgeon.

What Type Of Surgery Do I Need?

Latest research shows that a quarter of all nasal treatments in 2018 were performed on men – a slight increase on the year before.

Closed Reduction

During a closed reduction, a plastic surgeon can realign depressed or elevated bones and restore symmetry to the nose soon after a fracture. This can be carried out in the doctor’s office or as an emergency room procedure with anaesthesia.

But even if the injury happened years ago, a surgeon may be able to offer other procedures that can hugely improve a patient’s health and/or help to achieve the aesthetic they desire.  

Septoplasty

If the wall between their nasal passages (the septum) is crooked or twisted, a prospective patient may wish to undertake a septoplasty procedure. According to the Mayo Clinic, a deviated septum can block one side of the nose and reduce airflow, which may cause swelling, nosebleeds and difficulty breathing

It’s accepted that surgery is the only way to correct a deviated septum and a septoplasty, done under local or general anaesthetic, can take anywhere from thirty to ninety minutes. Usually, the plastic surgeon makes an incision on one side of the nose to move the septum into the right position and may anchor it in place with stitches.

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty surgery is very common for treating noses that aren’t causing medical problems. Often, according to medicine.net, the goal is to restore the pre-injury appearance of the nose or to improve the aesthetic appearance of the face. Prospective patients seeking cosmetic improvement may wish to consider a rhinoplasty.

Septorhinoplasty

This operation is suitable for patients who want eliminate their health problems – like blocked nasal passages or poor sleep quality – as well as straighten the nose and enhance their aesthetic.

According to Dr Richard Davis in Florida, a misshapen nose is often associated with functional abnormalities and it makes sense to try to solve two problems with one operation.

This is what happened for one construction worker who suffered a broken nose when a PVC piece fell onto his face and undertook broken nose treatment Boston.

Boston board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr Mark Markarian operated on him and the patient said, “he fixed my nose, made it look great, I really found myself with trust to get outside of the house, my wife was so happy, my mother thought it was even better than before… and he even fixed my septal deviation, so I’m breathing so much better.”

How Do I Know That The Procedure Will Work?

Many patients have understandable anxieties about how effective broken nose treatment Boston can be in improving their health. After all, a septorhinoplasty or rhinoplasty is an investment – both from a financial and time point of view.

Every operation also has its risks and patients need to understand and be comfortable with these before they decide to proceed with surgery.

Research has shown that “the most frequent complications after septoplasty were excessive bleeding …and more severe complications like hyposmia (reduced ability to smell) or inadequate vision were very rare and transient”.

To understand the potential risks of a nasal fracture or broken nose treatment, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon to explore how these issues can be prevented and treated. This will help ensure that a fully informed decision can be made.

You can learn more about the 5 surprising benefits to a rhinoplasty here.

One of the benefits of a better-functioning nose is that it can make a huge difference to the amount of oxygen the body receives. This can positively impact energy levels, sports performance and sleep.

Caeleb Dressel took time away from his Olympic career for surgery on his deviated septum. After some time out and a new training regime, the Boston Globe reported that he has since been picking up gold after gold. And while his surgery should not be credited for all of his success, one study confirms that the widening of the nasal cavity does contribute to a positive impact on exercise capacity.

How Do I Know That My Nose Will Look Better?

Some patients considering a rhinoplasty or a septorhinoplasty are concerned about the surgery results of celebrities that haven’t produced a natural or balanced aesthetic. It is essential for prospective patients to discuss their desired goals and outcomes of their broken nose treatment during a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Dr. Markarian recommends viewing many before-and-after pictures of real patients, and not just computer-generated images. Prospective patients should search for photographs of patients with a similar preoperative appearance to their own, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict their own outcome.

Undoubtedly, this helps to manage expectations for both the patient and the surgeon and gives both parties a visual guide to refer to.

Inevitably though, some operations don’t work out quite as hoped. And while surgeon Dr Loeb in Manhattan says there are no concrete statistics for the number of nose jobs that go wrong, he says roughly 10% of patients will seek revision rhinoplasty (corrective nasal surgery) after their initial operation. It’s at that point that many of those unfavourable results will be addressed.

In fact, even if the first operation hasn’t been a 100% success, a great outcome can be achieved with corrective surgery. Dr Mark Markarian operated on a patient who’d been left with a nose shape created by another surgeon that he wasn’t satisfied with. The patient reported that “I was absolutely blown away by Dr Markarian” and that he’d had “phenomenal results on a revision rhinoplasty”.

Overall, the Aesthetic Surgery Journal reports that the average satisfaction rate for rhinoplasty for both men and women is 83.6%.

While more men reported dissatisfaction than women, the report’s authors say this highlights the need to make sure the surgeon understands a patent’s desires and concerns before surgery and everyone has realistic expectations about what can be achieved from the operation. In fact, they recommend that rhinoplasty patients are seen at least twice before surgery in an attempt to make sure a patient is satisfied with the result.

So, by doing some due diligence with a surgeon about their goals and being clear about all their concerns, patients will maximize their chances of being satisfied with their results. 

How Painful Is it?

The answer to this is subjective as we all experience pain differently. That said, it’s worth evaluating the facts and reading accounts from other patients.

Recovery research says many patients don’t suffer excessive pain – in fact it’s only mild to moderate and should only last for up to 72 hours. However, a nose that’s undergone broken nose surgery may be sensitive for up to three months if it is manipulated or bumped.

The good news is some patients say it wasn’t as painful as they anticipated. Blogger, Eden Strong, says while she wasn’t prepared for the discomfort in the days following the operation, the recovery didn’t hurt nearly as much as she thought it would. “As expected, I didn’t feel too snazzy on the way home from the hospital, but after a few hours at home, I was shockingly…feeling okay. I no longer needed my doctor-prescribed Vicodin or even a Tylenol, for that matter”.

And there are steps patients can take to help speed up their recovery. New York doctor, Philip Miller, advises:

  • Not blowing their nose,
  • Not wearing glasses,
  • Propping themself up with a pillow or sleeping on a reclining chair at an angle,
  • Not taking part in strenuous activities.

The good news is any pain and restrictions to patients’ usual behaviour should only be in the short term.

Conclusion

As with any big decision in life, it’s worth carrying out as much research as you can on broken nose treatment Boston, which in this case, includes visiting a board-certified surgeon.

Dr. Markarian advises bringing a list of questions to make the most out of your consultation, including:

  • What can realistically be achieved?
  • What is involved in the surgery?
  • How much could the operation help reach your goals?
  • How long will the recovery be?  

You can find a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Rhinoplasty in Boston.

But remember to confront any hesitations you may have with the facts and evidence. The benefits of broken nose treatment Boston can be huge.

Contact a board-certified plastic surgeon in Boston to access all the information that you need to make a fully informed decision.

Disclaimer:

Please note: All materials on the Site, such as text, treatments, outcomes, photographs and images and any other material provided on the Site are for information purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding treatments. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Site.
Though the content of this blog has been carefully prepared, the author of this content is not a medical doctor and the content has not been reviewed by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Unless specifically stated, patients referred to in this blog have not received Broken Nose treatment from Dr Mark Markarian. This blog does not endorse the work of any doctors or surgeons mentioned. Stories relating to patients’ personal experiences of procedures should be treated as anecdotal only.
Any application of the material provided is at the reader’s discretion and his, her or their responsibility.