Fixing a Nose After Injury – Options in the UK

mrtimbiggs4
Nov 11
2 min read

Nasal injuries are common, whether from sport, accidents, or falls, and they can affect both appearance and breathing. Many patients contact my clinic in Portsmouth or Southampton asking how to fix a broken or crooked nose after injury and whether it can be repaired long after the initial trauma.

The good news is that modern functional septorhinoplasty techniques allow us to restore both form and function, even years after the injury occurred.

What Happens When the Nose Is Injured

The nose is made of both bone and cartilage. When it’s fractured or displaced, patients may experience:

A crooked or flattened appearance
Breathing difficulty, especially on one side
Deviated septum or internal valve collapse
Persistent swelling or asymmetry
Visible bump or depression on the bridge

If treated within the first two weeks, a closed nasal reduction may realign the bones. However, once healing occurs, a more formal functional septorhinoplasty is usually required to correct deformity and restore airflow.

Functional Septorhinoplasty – Rebuilding and Refining

For most post-traumatic noses, the ideal operation is a functional septorhinoplasty.

This surgery straightens the septum, rebuilds collapsed cartilage, and reshapes the external framework to re-establish natural balance. The operation can correct both minor aesthetic deformity and airway obstruction in one stage.

I perform this surgery using Piezo ultrasonic instrumentation and dorsal preservation techniques at Adnova Clinic in Fareham, serving patients from Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, and across Hampshire.

Piezo allows precise, gentle reshaping of bone using sound waves rather than chisels, meaning less bruising, less swelling, and a smoother recovery.

Timing and Recovery

For acute injuries (within 10–14 days), manipulation under anaesthetic may be possible. For older injuries, surgery can be safely performed once swelling has resolved, often several months later.

After functional septorhinoplasty, most patients return to normal life within 7–10 days. There is no nasal packing, and you can breathe through your nose straight away. A small external splint is removed after one week, and improvements continue for several months as swelling settles.

NHS vs Private Care

In most UK regions, including the Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB, post-traumatic functional rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty are not routinely funded, even after injury.

When structural correction is required for breathing or symmetry, patients typically choose self-funded consultant-delivered care.

At Adnova Clinic, Fareham, I offer both reconstructive and cosmetic correction for post-traumatic noses, using modern preservation-based methods for natural, long-lasting results.

Summary

If you’ve sustained a nasal injury and are unhappy with the shape or breathing, it can be fixed, even years later. Modern functional septorhinoplasty restores the nose’s structure, symmetry, and function safely and predictably.

For consultations in Portsmouth, Fareham, or Hampshire, contact Mr Tim Biggs, Consultant ENT & Rhinology Surgeon at Adnova Clinic.