Dorsal Hump Rhinoplasty: Assessment, Options and Risks

A dorsal hump is a prominence along the bridge of the nose involving bone, cartilage or both. It may be inherited or follow injury. Treatment is optional unless there is a functional concern, and the goal should be discussed in relation to the whole nose and face.

Assessment

A surgeon should assess breathing, septum, nasal bones and cartilage, skin thickness, facial proportions, health, medicines, previous trauma or surgery and the change requested. Photographs or simulations support discussion but do not predict an exact result.

Surgical and non-surgical options

Rhinoplasty may reduce or reshape a hump and sometimes requires controlled bone cuts, cartilage work or grafts. Filler can camouflage selected contour differences by adding volume but cannot remove a hump or make the nose smaller. Filler carries vascular risks and is not a risk-free substitute for surgery. No treatment is also an option.

Risks and recovery

Surgical risks include bleeding, infection, altered smell or sensation, breathing difficulty, septal damage, asymmetry, contour irregularity, visible scarring, anaesthetic complications and revision. Filler risks include swelling, lumps, infection, skin injury and, rarely, tissue loss or blindness. Swelling and final appearance vary.

Read Revitalize’s rhinoplasty planning guide and contact route.