My Rhinoplasty Journey /Cartilage Graft and Persistent Bump
I had a rhinoplasty about two months ago, and a cartilage graft was placed on the bridge of my nose.
I want to share my progress from the day of surgery until now because I’m trying to understand whether what I’m experiencing is normal swelling or whether it could be related to the cartilage graft itself.
During the first week:
The whole nose was obviously very swollen, but the raised area on the bridge was noticeable and and slight depression, It looked like there was a specific, fuller area rather than just generalized swelling. It was not something that appeared later during the healing process. The area looked more prominent from the beginning.
Weeks 2–3:
As the overall swelling started to decrease, the shape of the bridge became clearer. However, the same raised area was still there. It became more defined as the rest of the swelling went down.
After one month:
I asked my surgeon about the raised area. He examined it and told me that it was swelling. At that point, I accepted that explanation because I knew I was still relatively early in the healing process.
However, what concerns me is the texture. When I touch the area, it feels very firm and almost like a small solid piece or a defined edge underneath the skin. It does not feel like a soft, generalized swelling.
At two months:
The overall swelling has definitely decreased compared with the first month, and my nose has become slimmer. However, the raised area on the bridge is still noticeable, and I can still feel a firm, defined area underneath the skin.
This is why I’m confused. I understand that swelling and fibrosis can remain for months after rhinoplasty, especially when a cartilage graft has been used. But because the bump was visible from the very beginning and still feels like a firm piece, I’m wondering how much of what I’m seeing is swelling/fibrosis and how much could simply be the contour of the cartilage graft itself.
I also compared my result with another patient who had a cartilage graft performed by the same surgeon. At a similar stage of healing, his bridge looked much smoother and did not have the same visible fullness. I understand that every patient heals differently, so I know this comparison cannot prove that something is wrong with my nose, but it made me more concerned and curious about what is happening in my case.
At this point, I’m not sure whether the solution would simply be to wait for the swelling to go down, whether steroid injections could help if the problem is fibrosis/swelling, or whether a revision would ever be necessary if the prominence is actually related to the cartilage graft itself.
I’m sharing photos from different stages — immediately after surgery, the first week, weeks 2–3, one month, and around two months — so you can see how the area has changed over time.
I would really appreciate hearing from people who have had a cartilage graft during rhinoplasty and experienced a firm or prominent area on the bridge during the healing process.
Did it eventually flatten as the swelling went down, or did the cartilage remain prominent?
I’m especially interested in experiences from people who had a similar issue during the first few months after surgery.