Rhinoplasty is among the most popular and frequently performed cosmetic procedures. People opt for this procedure to reshape the nose and fix various irregularities.
One of these irregularities is a bump on nose after rhinoplasty. But is it possible to have a bony bump nose after rhinoplasty? Can it grow back? What to do about it? Scroll down to learn more.
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Rhinoplasty For Bump and Profile Refinement and Reducing Bulbous Tip
Removal of bumps on the nose is a common reason people seek rhinoplasty. Options for removal of a nasal bump and profile refinement include:
- Open rhinoplasty – traditional rhinoplasty performed under general anesthesia reshapes the contour of the nose; it may involve breaking and then resetting the nasal bone.
- Closed rhinoplasty – instead of making an incision like in open rhinoplasty, this procedure allows a surgeon to work through the nostrils to modify cartilage and bone.
- Non Surgical rhinoplasty – requires topical anesthesia, without incisions, and has a faster recovery time.
To reduce bulbous tips, the surgeon may recommend rhino-tip surgery. This procedure aims to change the tip of the nose and reduces the roundness of the bulbous tip.

Bump on Nose After Rhinoplasty
Patients generally decide to undergo rhinoplasty to remove a bump on the nose. Noticing the bump or a dip in those noses after rhinoplasty is a significant source of stress. This is the time when you start thinking the procedure was ineffective. You probably ask yourself why do I still have a bump on my nose after rhinoplasty.
A bump on the nose after rhinoplasty is not the same “bump” before the procedure. Once removed, the dorsal bump doesn’t grow back.
Related: How Long Does Liquid Rhinoplasty Last?
What you see on the nose is callus, scar tissue that looks like a bump. That said, early bumps on the nose after rhinoplasty is due to swelling of the nasal tissues. This is usually the case with bump on nose 3 months after rhinoplasty.
In some cases, bump of nose 6 months after rhinoplasty can be swelling, particularly after a traditional rhinoplasty procedure. If a “bump” persists one year post-op, scar tissue could be to blame.
I Have a Bump on My Nose After Rhinoplasty. Is There a Permanent Solution?
As mentioned above, a bump on the nose after rhinoplasty is not a “bump” per se but more likely scar tissue.
For some patients, this is equally frustrating, nonetheless. It is useful to bear in mind patients with large bumps before the surgery may need revision rhinoplasty, i.e., several operations for a smoother and straighter profile. It’s helpful to mention 10% to 15% of nasal reshaping surgeries need a revision procedure.
Related: Does Losing Weight Affect Your Nose?
You can expect a pimple-like bump on nose after rhinoplasty to resolve with time. Some plastic surgeons recommend nasal massage and gentle pressure. However, you should avoid applying forceful pressure that could shift and move nasal cartilage and bones. Some patients may need a steroid injection under the skin to control edema and swelling.
Rhinoplasty Recovery What to Expect Following Your Rhinoplasty Procedure
Recovery from liquid rhinoplasty is quite fast.
After the procedure, you may notice swelling, pain, and redness at the injection site. The injection usually starts settling within one or two hours. That’s also when redness starts disappearing. You may need to apply an ice pack to the treated area to lower inflammation and swelling.
You can expect redness to go away completely within a week or two. That’s also the timeframe within which the results of liquid rhinoplasty will be noticeable. This procedure virtually has no downtime, and patients are back to work the same or the next day.

The recovery process after surgical rhinoplasty is a lot longer and more challenging.
Even though rhinoplasty is a common cosmetic surgery performed in an outpatient setting, the full recovery may take up to a year. Length of recovery may vary from one patient to another, but it’s essential to have this information in mind when deciding whether to do the procedure.
Always remember rhinoplasty requires utmost precision, patience, and skill to change the shape of a person’s nose. Although this area isn’t big, it still needs time to heal.
Ideally, you should plan to take a week off from work or other obligations. Right after the procedure, you’re going to have bandages on, and a splint on the outside of the nose taped onto a forehead or a cheek.
You may have gauze under the nose due to blood dripping. The surgeon usually removes a splint seven days after the procedure. During this time, the nose may be congested, after the process, from splints or swelling.
In most patients, the internal dressing remains in place for one to seven days post-op.
During the first week after surgery, you may notice bruising under the eyes. Your surgeon will advise you on how to change the “drip pad” gauze when or if necessary. So that you can avoid growing bump on nose after rhinoplasty.
In the second week, you can expect bruising and swelling to decrease. During the third and fourth week of recovery, your surgeon is likely to approve cardiovascular training if you do these types of activities. Six weeks after the procedure you will be able to resume resistance workouts and strength training.
Gradual improvement in the nose’s appearance is observed in the first few weeks post-op as the tissues heal. The swelling remains longer in the soft tissue of the nose.
Despite the fact you will notice a significant difference in appearance of the nose three or four weeks post-op, it takes several months up to a year for the final nose contour to appear.
Three to six months after rhinoplasty is a period when numbness and other abnormal skin sensations go away. And you may not see any bump on nose after rhinoplasty after this period.
Speed of recovery and satisfaction with results depend a lot on each patient. Adherence to the surgeon-provided instructions is vital for the optimal healing process. Your surgeon may instruct you to:
- Avoid vigorous activities such as cardiovascular training right after the procedure
- Avoid blowing your nose
- Opt for baths instead of showers while you have bandages
- Wear clothes that fasten in the front so that you don’t pull them over your head
- Limit the movement of the upper lip by brushing your teeth gently
- Avoid making extreme facial expressions, e.g., laughing or smiling
- Consume high-fiber foods to avoid constipation
- Don’t rest the eyeglasses/sunglasses on the nose for four weeks minimum to prevent pressure on the nose
Nasal Skin Care After Rhinoplasty
Healthy and radiant skin calls for a proper skin care regimen. Caution is essential after rhinoplasty surgery. While you shouldn’t forego your skincare routine, you do need to be careful. Your surgeon will explain how to take care of your skin following rhinoplasty. These tips can also help you out:
- Be gentle when cleansing your face after rhinoplasty. When cleansing, it’s crucial to keep the cast dry. Wash around the area with a splint. You may need to use swabs to clean around or inside the nostrils of your nose while it heals. Once the cast is removed, you will need to use a mild or gentle cleanser and avoid those with harsh ingredients. Gentle cleanser won’t irritate the delicate skin on your nose and cause redness. A great example here is a hypoallergenic cleanser without fragrance.
- While it is advised to avoid direct sun exposure following rhinoplasty, you should apply sunscreen to your face, particularly your nose, when you do go out. Opt for a non-comedogenic sunscreen (it doesn’t clog pores). Sunscreen is essential because the skin on and around the nose is more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays after rhinoplasty. Exposure to UV rays could lead to discoloration of the incision site.
- Stick to the facial products with gentle ingredients and formulas.
- Prevent skin dryness by applying a moisturizer, but avoid harsh ingredients such as retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids after rhinoplasty until your nose recovers.
- Soon after the procedure, you may start applying makeup again; your surgeon will inform you when it is best to do so. Once you start applying makeup, you may want to go for mineral-based foundations and powders because they tend to be on the gentler side. When applying makeup, do so gently.
Non Surgical Rhinoplasty vs Traditional Rhinoplasty
Both types of procedures have the same goal – to improve the appearance of a patient’s nose and address some irregularities. Their mechanism of action is different. Compared to surgical rhinoplasty, liquid rhinoplasty doesn’t include incisions but revolves around the use of fillers to address asymmetry or bumps on the nose.
While traditional rhinoplasty may last between one to four hours, nonsurgical methods are done in about 15 minutes. Since the procedure is minimally invasive, the recovery process is minimal, and results are visible immediately.

Also, non-surgical rhinoplasty is simple, whereas surgical rhinoplasty is more complex, and a surgeon may use graft to finesse results.
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is less invasive and easier to recover from than surgical rhinoplasty. That said, results are not permanent, and regular treatments are necessary to maintain them.
Surgical rhinoplasty is a better idea for persons who want significant changes in the appearance of their nose primarily because liquid rhinoplasty is more suitable for subtle modifications.
FAQs
Can a Bump Grow Back After Rhinoplasty?
A bump on nose after rhinoplasty can’t grow back once it is removed through rhinoplasty. That said, some people may develop calluses in the areas where the surgery removed cartilage and bone.
A callus is a thickened or hardened part of soft tissue or the skin. These newly-formed calluses look like bumps. Keep in mind calluses are not the actual bumps. Immediately after rhinoplasty, the nose may appear swollen, so it could look like you have a bump, but swelling will go away.
How Long Does the Bridge Stay Swollen After Rhinoplasty?
Bruising or swelling is quite noticeable after rhinoplasty. However, you can expect the swelling to subside in a couple of weeks after the procedure. The nose may have residual puffiness for six months post-op, but it’s usually subtle and not too noticeable.
When Can You Bump Your Nose After Rhinoplasty?
Although the nose isn’t made of glass and won’t get damaged easily, you should be cautious during the first four to six weeks after the procedure. If you accidentally hit your nose, you may want to put ice to reduce swelling and contact your doctor to address your concerns.
Should I Massage My Nose After Rhinoplasty?
Yes, ideally, you should. Patients who undergo rhinoplasty are advised to perform nasal massage for two minutes, two times a day, for two to three months. Massage could help alleviate swelling along the sidewall and nasal tip.
If your surgeon recommends nasal massage, they will explain how to perform it. Some surgeons don’t recommend massage after rhinoplasty because vigorous rubbing or manipulation too soon after the procedure may, although unlikely, pop a stitch and affect corrections made.
Is Uneven Swelling Normal After Rhinoplasty?
Even though it may not seem like it, asymmetry in swelling after rhinoplasty is normal. Uneven swelling after rhinoplasty is particularly common in crooked noses. In these noses, the skin has been moved out of its position and adopts a specific shape. Once the bone and cartilage are straightened, the skin needs more time to flatten and contract to the new level and look straighter.
Asymmetrical swelling may also occur in cases when a patient prefers sleeping on one specific side of the body. It’s also not unusual for unevenness after rhinoplasty to change sides from time to time. With time, unevenness is expected to improve and become less noticeable.
Conclusion
Bump on nose after rhinoplasty is unlikely to grow back, but scar tissue can form. This is not a severe problem, and you can resolve it. If you have concerns about a “bumpy” appearance on your nose after rhinoplasty, you may want to consult your surgeon.