20th Jun 2024
Are you struggling with a nasal bridge bump? Nose dorsal humps are not just an aesthetic concern; they also give insights into your genetic makeup or past injuries. Our Kensington Medical guide breaks down the causes and gives you effective treatments to help you achieve a smoother nasal profile—surgical and non-surgical.
Key Points Worth Noting
- Dorsal humps on the nose are irregularities of bone and cartilage that can be caused by genetic predisposition, trauma, or medical conditions, which potentially affect both the appearance and often the function of the nose.
- Treatment options for dorsal humps include surgical rhinoplasty, which offers a permanent solution and can be done through open or closed rhinoplasty techniques, and non-surgical procedures like the use of dermal fillers, which provide temporary results.
- Deciding to have a dorsal hump removed can have significant psychological benefits by enhancing self-esteem and confidence and your improving self-image.
Understanding Dorsal Hump Removal: An Overview
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Many people seek a nose that has a smooth shape from the top of the nose to the tip of the nose. Due to irregularities of bone and cartilage known as dorsal humps, an unwanted bump on nose may disrupt the desired shape. These humps, composed of both bone and cartilaginous structures, form a visible bump on the nasal bridge, altering the nose’s contour.
Nose bump removal offers the ability to modify the nasal structure boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Nose Bumps: What Can Cause Them?
So, what triggers these nose bumps? The reasons are diverse and include:
- genetic predisposition, you are born with a dorsal hump
- impact from an accident for example a sporting accident or injury
- medical anomalies
All of these can contribute to nose bump issues.
Genetic Predisposition
Genetics plays a significant role in the formation of dorsal humps. The likelihood of developing a dorsal hump or a dorsal bump is higher if either parent has the feature.
This genetic predisposition is often seen during puberty. As the structure of the nose develops during this period, any genetically influenced irregularities start to appear.
Impact and Injury
A forceful impact on the nose through an accident and injury, particularly during the developmental years, can distort the cartilage during the healing process, resulting in cartilage and bone irregularities such as:
- a dorsal hump
- a crooked or deviated nose
- a collapsed or pinched nasal tip
- asymmetry in the shape or size of the nose
These changes can affect both the appearance and function of the nose, potentially leading some individuals to consider a nose job to straighten the dorsal hump.
Medical Anomalies
The formation of a dorsal hump can also occur by medical issues. Nasal polyps, benign growths on the nasal lining related to allergies or respiratory conditions, can appear as a hard bump on the nose.
Other medical conditions could be boils, pus-filled lumps caused by bacterial infections, could show as a pseudo-hump when they occur on the nasal bridge. Chronic allergies can cause ongoing swelling in nasal tissues, potentially forming a visible hump on the nose bridge.
What Are the Dorsal Hump Removal Options?
Surgical Rhinoplasty or dorsal hump removal surgery
Surgical rhinoplasty, a common method for dorsal hump removal, offers the advantage of being a permanent results. This procedure can be performed using two main techniques: open or closed rhinoplasty. The choice between open and closed rhinoplasty depends on the severity of the dorsal hump and the extent of reshaping required. During consultation our plastic surgeons will discuss the best options for your nose shape and what you want to achieve.
Open rhinoplasty provides greater visibility and precision for the surgeon, involving an incision along the columella, peeling back the skin for precise removal of bone and cartilage. Closed rhinoplasty is less invasive and suitable in cases where the dorsal hump is less pronounced, with incisions made inside the nostrils.
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
For those seeking less invasive options, non-surgical rhinoplasty using dermal fillers might help. Unlike surgical rhinoplasty, this procedure doesn’t involve any incisions, leading to minimal downtime and immediate results.
This approach uses dermal fillers to fill in areas of the nose around the dorsal hump, temporarily minimising the bump’s appearance. It’s important to note, however, that while it offers immediate results, the effects are not permanent, typically lasting 12 months.
Your Rhinoplasty Journey: Procedure and Recovery
In consultation our plastic surgeon will examine your nose and discuss the various treatment options, show you many before and after rhinoplasty photos, discuss the procedure, recovery time line and post-operative care.
Preparing for Dorsal Hump Removal Surgery
At Kensington Medical we offer two or more consultations. We believe it's important that you feel comfortable with your cosmetic surgeon and that are able to discuss all aspects of the dorsal bump surgery and any questions you may have. Following consultation our medical team will arrange for a thorough pre-operative medical assessment.
To prepare for the rhinoplasty surgery, certain lifestyle changes may be necessary and will be discussed in your consultation. Patients should:
- Avoid blood-thinning supplements
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol
- Avoid excessive sun exposure
- Refrain from using skincare products containing Salicylic Acid
This will help in the successful surgical procedure and lead to a smooth recovery.
Post-Operative Care for Dorsal Hump Removal
Your journey doesn’t end with the surgery. Post-operative care and recovery is an important part of the journey. Following the rhinoplasty, patients should:
- Avoid blowing their nose
- Sleep with their head elevated
Timeline to recovery:
- Stitches are removed generally within a week
- You should see a decrease in bruises, swelling, and redness after three weeks
- You can gradually return to normal activities and exercise within 4-6 weeks
In the early stages post-operative swelling may temporarily look like a hump during the healing process. There is no need to worry, the final results, including the final contour of the nose, are typically visible once all swelling has subsided. This can take up to a year post-surgery, although you will see the results of a smooth nose just after surgery.
When to Consider Rhinoplasty Surgery
If a dorsal hump affects your self-confidence and you want a flatter, smoother nasal bridge for aesthetic purposes, then cosmetic surgery may be the best option for you.
In many cases, we also find that there might be other reasons such as breathing issues due to a deviated septum. Discussing this in consultation is ideal.
Personalising Your Consultation
As each nose is distinctive, so should the procedure be for removing a dorsal hump. We will design a patient-focused plan taking into account your individual nasal structure and what outcomes are best for you.
During this process, your nose surgeon will evaluate various factors such as:
- the size of the dorsal hump
- your desired nasal profile
- the presence of cartilage and bone
- the length of the nasal bones
Before photos are taken and together with your surgeon, you will both asses how it could look with the help of software.
This comprehensive approach ensures that the treatment plan aligns with what you want to achieve.
The Psychological Impact of Nose Bumps
The impact of dorsal humps goes beyond the physical changes. Choosing to remove a dorsal hump often comes from a wish to improve the nose’s shape and appearance, which can subsequently boost a person’s self-esteem.
Patients who decide to have their dorsal hump treated through dorsal hump surgery may experience psychological benefits such as:
- a sense of satisfaction with their new appearance
- increased self-confidence
- improved body image
- reduced self-consciousness especially when taking photos
Summary
Dorsal hump removal is one of our most popular procedures and we see not only people in their 20's and 30's but 40s and 50s enjoy the benefits. Get in touch to find out more about Kensington Medical, our expert plastic surgeons, 5 star hospitals and our values that we work very hard to follow.
Our expert plastic surgeons have headed up NHS plastics departments and have faced all sorts of nose trauma associated with dorsal humps. To find out about our expert nose surgeons click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a dorsal hump nose?
A dorsal hump nose is usually caused by genetics or injury, leading to uneven bone or cartilage healing causing the bump.
At what age do dorsal humps develop?
Dorsal humps typically develop during puberty when the nose is still growing and developing. If one or both parents have a dorsal hump, there is a likelihood of developing one as well.
Can dorsal hump go away naturally?
If your dorsal hump is caused by swollen soft tissue, it may go away naturally. However, if the bones in your nose have been fractured and moved out of place, the hump and crooked appearance will remain.
What are dorsal humps?
Dorsal humps are irregularities on the nasal bridge, consisting of bone and cartilage, which create a visible bump and change the shape of the nose.
How does the recovery process from rhinoplasty look like?
The recovery process from rhinoplasty takes a number of weeks and months.
- Stitches are removed generally within a week,
- Your nose will see decreased bruising, swelling, and redness after about three weeks,
- You will gradually return to normal activities within 4-6 weeks.