Where Sports and Surgery Meet: Fixing a Sports Injury With Reconstructive Rhinoplasty

Since athletes fill so much of their time with physical activity, they have a high risk of injury. Especially in team sports, facial injuries happen all the time and can be difficult to repair. A broken nose is one of the most common sports injuries, but with the help of Dr Zoumaras, reconstructive rhinoplasty can fix these deformities.

Common Culprits of Sports Injuries

Thousands of Australians every year end up in the hospital due to sports injuries. While almost any sport can cause a serious nose injury, these are the biggest culprits: rugby, Australian rules football, soccer, cricket, and combative sports like boxing or taekwondo. Other culprits include wheeled motor sports, roller sports, and other forms of football. Common causes of a sports-related nose injury include being hit by a ball or bat, falling, collision, or being hit by another player. If you’ve had any sort of sports-related impact to the nose and you’ve noticed bleeding, swelling, pain, and/or deformity, you could have a broken nose. And while a broken nose may not keep you out of the game, it’s not something you want to ignore.

Fixing a Broken Nose

A broken nose may heal in a deformed shape if reconstructive rhinoplasty is not performed to correct the injury. It can also make it more difficult to breathe. Consider this wisely along with the fact that Medicare may provide a rebate for reconstructive rhinoplasty after a sports injury. Dr Jack Zoumaras at Artiste Plastic Surgery will work with you to treat your injury and restore your nose to its former glory. This prominent facial feature in the centre of your face will be well cared for in his hands. He will assess your face and your nose to come up with a plan to restore its cosmetic appearance and proper functionality. As he carefully deals with the nasal fracture and the soft tissue trauma, you’ll soon be healing up and ready to get back to your active life.

If you have previously broken your nose and not done anything about it, it is still possible to have a reconstructive rhinoplasty.

Recovery and Returning to the Field

After surgery, you’ll remain in the hospital that night and will be released the following day with a splint or packing to support your nose as it heals. Within two weeks, you should be able to return to work. Before getting back on the rugby field or engaging in whatever sport broke your nose in the first place, Dr Zoumaras recommends waiting at least a few weeks after surgery. But once he is done with your reconstructive rhinoplasty, your nose should heal just fine, and you will soon be able to get back into the game. If there is a high risk of reinjury, then it may be recommended to undergo your reconstructive rhinoplasty in the off season or when you stop playing.

Reconstructive rhinoplasty may be perfect for you if you’ve recently received a sports-related injury. Contact our office by calling 02 9327 1700, or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation with Dr Zoumaras.  

Disclaimer: At Artiste Plastic Surgery, our Plastic Surgeons led by Dr Jack Zoumaras have been trained to the highest possible degree. All surgery has risks and it is always advised to get a second opinion. Risks are very real and we cannot guarantee any result. Results are illustrated as a guide only. All risks are managed and any need for revision surgery or complications (1-5%) can be managed by our specialist plastic surgeons.

Any statements on how you will feel is based on Level V Evidence:

Level V:  How you will feel after plastic surgery varies between individuals, depending on psychological and physical factors. Our internal research is based on how patients in our practice feel after surgery.

The blogs are not a substitute for a medical consultation and do not form as part of the doctor to patient relationship.