Corrective Nose Surgery Santa Monica
For those who may not be familiar with maxillofacial trauma, it is a clinical term used to describe soft tissue injuries, eye injuries, or fractures involving the face. The most common maxillofacial trauma is a nasal fracture. However, because the nose is made up primarily of small bones and cartilage, these types of fractures are not always immediately apparent, especially when coupled with bleeding and swelling.

How Can You Tell if Your Nose is Broken?

Some of the most common tell-tale signs of a nasal fracture include:

• A nose that is swollen or misaligned
• Severe pain when you touch your nose
• Nosebleeds
• Difficulty breathing
• Bruising underneath the eyes
• A large amount of mucus running from the nose

What Should You Do After a Nasal Fracture?
If after suffering maxillofacial trauma you recognize that your nose is broken, there are a few things that you can do to prevent the injury from becoming worse, some of which include
Avoid lying down or tilting your head backward.
Tilt your head forward to prevent blood from entering your throat.
To stop the bleeding, pinch the softest part of your nose for 5 minutes while tilting your head forward.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate any pain you may be feeling.

When Should You See a Doctor?
In some cases, the nose may not be broken at all; instead, the pain that you’re feeling may be the result of swelling and inflammation within the nasal cavity. In these cases, you can do the following:

• Place a cold compress on your nose for about 10 minutes to help reduce swelling.
• Avoid putting too much pressure on the compress while holding it on your nose.
• Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to help with pain and swelling.

Most physicians, including those who specialize in Santa Monica broken nose repair, will agree that if your pain or swelling has not subsided within 3 to 5 days or if your nose appears crooked, it would be a good idea to be seen by a physician. This is especially true if you have noticed changes in your breathing as nasal fractures can damage many of the delicate structures within the nose. Licensed cosmetic surgeons at our Santa Monica plastic surgery center, for example, can determine if your breathing problems are the result of a nasal fracture.

If you believe that your nose is broken and have not found relief after trying the tips outlined in this article, you should be seen by a physician as soon as possible. To find a practitioner in your area that is well-versed in treating nasal fractures, consider doing a Google search using the keywords “rhinoplasty procedure Santa Monica” or “corrective nose surgery Santa Monica.”