A sound from my nose after septal surgery — is it a side effect, or can it be watched?
2024. 11. 22.
Two years after septal surgery, a sound comes from the nose when yawning or opening the mouth wide? Whether it's cartilage colliding, and when revision becomes worth considering — organized from the director's answer.
Key points
- A sound when yawning or opening the mouth wide can relate to cartilage movement — but can't be confirmed without direct examination of the cause.
- If a sound newly appearing 2 years later comes with a shape change like a dented bridge, structure gets checked at the surgical clinic.
- If it's not greatly uncomfortable it can be watched — but if daily life is uncomfortable or part of the bridge looks dented inward, revision fixing·repositioning cartilage or filling the dented area can be considered.
"I had septal surgery 2 years ago, and lately my nose makes a sound when I yawn. Did the surgery go wrong?"
Changes appearing long after surgery easily lead to worry about side effects. This article organizes the answer to a real question about nasal sounds and apparent shape changes after septal surgery.
01
What was the question?
It came from someone who'd had hump correction together with septal surgery 2 years ago. Surgery was done using only their own tissue with no implant — but recently, when yawning widely or opening the mouth big to eat, they felt something like nasal bones resetting, with a sound coming from the nose.
On top of that, they worried that their nose shape around 6 months–1 year post-op looks slightly different from now, with part of the bridge seeming slightly dented inward. The core: is the sound a surgical failure or side effect — and does it need revision?
02
Is a nasal sound a side effect?
Saying exactly requires examining the state directly and knowing which surgery was done — but judging from the question alone, this seemed a case where septal cartilage had been inserted at the tip during deviated-septum surgery.
A sound when opening the mouth wide can relate to cartilage movement — but without seeing surgical records and current structure, the cause can't be confirmed nor can it be declared 'not a side effect.'
03
Is a slightly changed shape okay too?
After rhinoplasty, the shape can change subtly — and that too isn't a side effect. Still, response differs by the type of change.
| State | Judgment |
|---|---|
| Only a sound when yawning·opening mouth, not greatly uncomfortable | Check the change timing and surgical structure, then decide whether to observe |
| Life is uncomfortable or it keeps bothering you because of the sound | Consider resolving via revision — fixing cartilage or repositioning it |
| Part of the bridge seems dented inward | A state where revision to fill the dented part looks needed |
In short, the sound itself is watchable — but if a shape issue like a dented bridge accompanies it, revision can be considered even just to fill that part. When and by what criteria revision gets judged can be seen in detail in the revision guide.
04
Summary — the sound can be watched, but shape change needs checking
A sound newly appearing 2 years after septal surgery can relate to cartilage movement but can't be confirmed remotely. If a shape change like a dented bridge accompanies it, surgical records and current structure must be examined directly, then observation vs correction decided by cause and degree of discomfort.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
If my nose sounds when yawning after septal surgery, did the surgery fail?
Is there a fix if the sound bothers me?
My nose shape changed slightly 1–2 years after surgery — is that a side effect?
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.