Saddle nose correction: a reconstruction scheme for collapsed nose bridge

2026-07-26 17:27:33 Medical beauty strategy 0 89

Give a direct answer first

The essence of saddle nose correction is "reconstruction scaffold": mild saddle nose can be used prosthesis or cartilage to enhance the nasal dorsum, medium and severe saddle nose must first repair the collapsed nasal septum support, and then use costal cartilage and other materials to rebuild the nasal dorsum height.Only put a prosthesis at the collapse without solving the support problem, and the prosthesis is prone to displacement, light transmission or even re-collapse in the long run. The plan needs to beDr. Tang YuxiangIt will be determined after a professional doctor's face-to-face evaluation.

First, what is a saddle nose: it is not just the bridge of the nose that collapses

Saddle nose refers to the middle section of the bridge of the nose (mainly cartilaginous dorsum of the nose) that is obviously sunken, and the side profile is like a saddle. It is often accompanied by the tip of the nose upturned, the nostrils facing forward, and the nose is short. The difference between it and the ordinary "low bridge" is that the low nose is the overall height insufficient but the lines are smooth, while the saddle nose isThe middle section collapsed and the support structure was damaged。

common causes

Congenital development:Insufficient nasal bone and septal cartilage is common in East Asian populations.
Traumatic:The nasal septum fracture, hematoma or abscess caused by nasal trauma collapses after destroying cartilage support.
Iatrogenic:The nasal septum was excessively removed and the prosthesis was not reconstructed after rhinoplasty.
Other:Infections, immune diseases, etc. destroy cartilage structures (such require treatment of the primary disease first).

Saddle nose is one of the common nasal deformities, and the overall classification of upturned nose and hump nose can be referred toSix types of nasal deformity correction plan。

Comparison of saddle nose grading and correction plan

indexing	typical performance	Corrective thinking	Common materials	Reference price range
Mild (I degree)	The back of the nose is slightly sunken, and the support is basically intact	Just raise the back of the nose.	Silicone/expanded prosthesis, hyaluronic acid (temporary)	About 2 million - 5 million yuan
Moderate (ⅱ degree)	The depression is obvious, the tip of the nose is upturned, and the nose is short	Nasal dorsal pad + nasal septum extension restores nasal length	Prosthesis/costal cartilage + nasal septum or ear cartilage	About 5 million - 9 million yuan
Severe (III degree)	Severe collapse of the bridge of the nose, lack of septal support	Costal cartilage reconstruction L-shaped stent + dorsal nasal plasty	Autologous costal cartilage	About 9 million - 15 million yuan

Mild saddle nose If you only want temporary improvement, you can consider itHyaluronic acid rhinoplasty, but the maintenance time is limited and not suitable for moderate and severe collapse. For detailed trade-offs between prostheses and autologous cartilage, seeHow to choose rhinoplasty materials。

Why autologous costal cartilage is preferred for moderate to severe saddle nose

The amount of costal cartilage is sufficient and the strength is high, which can simultaneously rebuild the nasal septum support and the height of the nasal dorsum.
Autologous tissue has no rejection, and its anti-infective ability is better than that of the prosthesis. It is suitable for the nose on the basis of trauma or postoperative scars.
It can be carved into willow leaf-shaped dorsal nasal grafts and support rods, with strong shape controllability; but there is a slight bending deformation probability, relying on the doctor's experience in materials and carving.

III. Recovery period and risk warnings

After reconstruction of costal cartilage and sellar nose, the nasal splint was fixed in about 1 week, the swelling mostly subsided in 2-4 weeks, and the morphology was stabilized in 6-12 months; the incision at the rib was about 2-3 cm, and strenuous chest expansion exercise was avoided within 1 month after surgery.
After trauma, saddle nose is recommended to be formally reconstructed after 6 months after injury and stable structure; infectious or immune saddle nose must first control the primary disease and stabilize it for more than half a year.
The main risks include graft bending/absorption, unsatisfactory morphology, infection, etc. Choosing a doctor with experience in nose repair can significantly reduce the probability of secondary surgery.

Fourth, saddle nose correction FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a saddle nose and an ordinary flat nose bridge?
A: The collapsed nose bridge is due to insufficient overall height and smooth lines; the saddle nose is a partial depression in the middle section of the nose bridge, often accompanied by damage to the support structure, which makes it more difficult to correct and more complex.

Q: How much is saddle nose correction?
A: Mild saddle nose prosthesis elevation in Shanghai is about 2 -{ 10} thousand yuan, and moderate and severe costal cartilage stent reconstruction is about {20} -{ 3} thousand yuan. The specific treatment plan shall prevail.

Q: Can hyaluronic acid be corrected?
A: Only mild depression can be temporarily improved by hyaluronic acid and maintained for about 6 - 12 months; moderate to severe loss of saddle nose support cannot be resolved by injection and there is a risk of vascular overfilling. Surgical reconstruction should be selected.

Q: Is rib cartilage necessary for saddle nose correction?
A: Not necessarily. Prosthesis or ear cartilage can be used for mild saddle noses that are well supported; only moderate to severe cases with insufficient nasal septum support require costal cartilage reconstruction L-shaped stents.

Q: How long can I do saddle nose correction after trauma?
A: It is generally recommended to operate after 6 months after the trauma, the swelling subsides and the scar softens; if the nasal septum hematoma or abscess is combined, emergency treatment should be given to prevent the collapse from worsening.

Q: Will the saddle nose collapse again after correction?
A: The probability of re-collapse after standardized reconstruction of support is low; if only the pad prosthesis is not treated for the lack of support, the risk of long-term displacement and re-collapse is higher, which is why saddle nose emphasizes "stent reconstruction".