Tip drooped 10 days after nose surgery — suture loosening, donor rib cartilage state, and judging reconstruction
2025. 9. 9.
An answer to a question about pressing the nose ten days post-surgery and the columella collapsing — changes when sutures loosen, donor rib cartilage's nature, how massage·flattening affects revision, and criteria for considering reconstruction.
Key points
- If columella·tip shape suddenly changed after pressing around 10 days post-surgery, don't self-assume suture loosening or cartilage state — contact the surgery hospital right away.
- Don't press more or massage trying to restore the shape — record before/after photos and when the change occurred.
- Before whether revision is possible, directly confirm the wound·fixation structure·blood flow·infection status first, then decide on observation or treatment timing.
"About ten days after surgery I pressed my nose firmly, and the columella they'd erected collapsed. Did the suture come loose?"
We often receive questions from people anxious because their nose shape changed within ten-odd days of nose surgery. An actual knowledge-iN inquiry was such a case — the columella portion erected with donor rib cartilage collapsed after being pressed by hand, the once-slim shape spread like the original nose, and while the part augmented with ear cartilage still looks projected, the height is gradually lowering toward its former level. It was reportedly a change occurring over 3–4 days, separate from swelling.
This article organizes — based on the answer to that question — early post-surgery shape changes and criteria for judging reconstruction.
01
What changes appear when a suture loosens?
A sudden shape change early post-surgery can't be identified — as suture loosening, cartilage movement, or swelling change — from photos or text alone. Nor can the current fixation state be judged fine merely from the general explanation that donor rib cartilage is firm. Record before/after photos and when the change occurred, inform the surgery hospital right away, and get a direct evaluation.
02
Does massaging or pressing flat a dented part affect revision?
The asker said they'd been continuously massaging the tip due to heavy scar tissue, and had pressed a dented area flat themselves after excessive cartilage tying. How such actions affect a subsequent surgery, organized by item:
| Situation | Effect on revision |
|---|---|
| Continuously massaging the tip due to scar tissue | Stop immediately and confirm whether timing·direction·intensity match the surgery hospital's instructions |
| Pressed a dented part flat themselves | Don't press further; inform the hospital of before/after photos and symptoms |
At this stage, rather than estimating how self-massage or pressure might affect the next surgery, avoiding further damage and confirming the current fixation structure and wound state comes first. When and by what criteria revision gets judged can be seen in more detail in the revision guide.
03
Summary — even when anxious, confirming the state comes first
When the nose shape suddenly changes early post-surgery, don't press or massage trying to restore it yourself. Record before/after photos and when the change occurred, inform the surgery hospital right away, and after confirming the fixation structure·wound·blood flow·infection status, decide on observation or treatment direction.
If curious about the nose's current state or whether reconstruction is needed, it can be confirmed directly in a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
If pressing early post-surgery loosened a suture, are there side effects beyond reverting to the original nose?
Does donor rib cartilage soften after a few months?
Can I press again to restore the shape?
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.