One month after tip ear cartilage surgery — if under one nostril rim looks dented: telling a side effect from a cartilage-edge phenomenon
2024. 4. 29.
If under one nostril rim looks dented a month after bridge silicone and tip ear cartilage surgery — it may be the cartilage's edge showing as an indentation. How it differs from a side effect, and what to do when it bothers you.
Key points
- It may be the cartilage edge showing — but without confirming the cause of the one-sided dent directly, a side effect can't be ruled out either.
- Skin, scar, cartilage position, and whether pinching is present need to be checked at the clinic that operated.
- Still, if this phenomenon appears severely, a pinched-looking nose can result — so if it bothers you, discussing it together at the clinic that operated is best.
"It's been about a month since my rhinoplasty, and below one nostril rim looks hollowed in. Could this be a rhinoplasty side effect?"
When only one side looks different at a point not long after surgery, it's startling and bewildering. Especially when it's a part contrasted against the opposite side, it catches the eye even more. This article organizes, based on an actual received question, what kind of case such a dent falls under.
01
What was the situation?
The asker's situation was the following.
- About a month since rhinoplasty
- 4mm of silicone on the bridge, tip done with ear cartilage
- In photos, below one nostril rim looks hollowed in
Their question was whether this was a rhinoplasty side effect — and if so, what kind.
02
Is this dent a side effect?
It could be a phenomenon where the ear cartilage edge shows — but without photos and palpation, the cause can't be confirmed nor a side effect ruled out.
When tip ear cartilage surgery is done, the cartilage's edge can appear as an indentation. The point where the cartilage placed in the tip ends shows on the outside, looking like a hollow following that boundary. It's a symptom seen fairly often after nose surgery.
Organized, two things get distinguished.
| What it is | How it looks |
|---|---|
| The cartilage edge appearing as an indentation | Looks hollowed following the boundary point of the cartilage used at the tip |
| When this phenomenon appears severely | A situation where the nose looks pinched can result |
In other words, rather than the fact that it looks dented itself, how severe it is is the part to look at together. What material gets used at the tip and what gets checked can be seen in more detail in the nasal tip surgery guide.
03
What should I do if it bothers me?
If the pinched-in part keeps bothering you, contacting the clinic where you had surgery and discussing it together with the surgeon who operated is best.
- Contact the clinic that operated — they're the side that knows what method was used and how far the surgery went.
- Check together with the surgeon — they look at where the currently visible degree falls within the recovery course.
- Decide after discussion — whether to keep watching or look at another approach gets set together.
04
Summary — look at the dent's identity and degree together
If below one nostril rim looks dented after silicone on the bridge and ear cartilage on the tip, several causes need checking — cartilage edges, skin and scar changes, pinching. Don't conclude remotely that it isn't a side effect; get the current degree and change trend confirmed at the clinic that operated.
If you can't judge which side your current state falls on at the one-month mark, you can check in a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
Only one side looks dented — is that still not a side effect?
Does it disappear on its own over time?
Which clinic should I go to for consultation?
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.