I have seen new articles detailing a procedure that basically deals primarily with decreasing nostril width, and not so much with breaking bones of the nose? I have been told that this is a popular alternative to traditional rhinoplasty in ethnic communities? does this procedure exist, and if so what are the major differences in how the procedure is conducted?
There is no quick fix nose job. There are some minor procedures that can be done on the nostrils whereby a small wedge excision of nostril tissue is removed and the nostrils can be simply narrowed. This does nothing for the tip, the dorsal aesthetic line, or with the bridge.
These are called Weir excisions and can be performed as a standalone procedure if needed. It is rare to have a nose that only needs Weir excisions for nostril reduction.
In general, beware of anything or anyone advertising "quick fix" surgery, in particular when dealing with the nose. Two things to consider: Rhinoplasty is a complex procedure, and your nose sits on the center of your face for all to see. What this means is that the procedure needs to be done properly by an individual who understands the anatomy and how different parts of the nose should balance each other harmoniously. In other words, if you just narrow the base of the nose or make the nostrils smaller without addressing the rest of the nose, it can leave you with a poor result that looks clearly "operated on".
My advice would be to seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area, discuss with him or her your concerns, look at the surgeon's before and after photos, and then make a choice. As with many things in cosmetic surgery, the first procedure usually offers the best chance at a good result, so it's important to take your time with this decision and be fully committed to the surgical plan.
Dr. S
Narrowing the width of the nose is much easier than changing the whole appearance of the nose. This technique usually requires less complicated approaches and is less susceptible of undergoing scarring that could lead to changes that can alter the appearance of the nose. This is not the case when the surgeon works on the tip and to a lesser degree when he works on the nasal bridge.
Importantly, you definitely don't want to fit the person into a particular procedure. You want the procedures and a combination of techniques to fit the specifics of the particular person and what that particular person needs to achieve his / her goals.
Also, when I talk about narrowing the width of the nose we are talking about the area by the nostrils, and not the bony part of the nose which is closer to the eyes. Narrowing the nasal bridge is much more complicated than narrowing the nasal base near the nostrils.
Rhinoplasty is very complex surgery and takes many forms depending on what the problem is with the nose. No rhinoplasty is simple because each maneuver the surgeon makes can have multiple effects on the nose. Ethnic rhinoplasty is especially complex because of certain features that different ethnic groups have. So beware of anyone calling anything about rhinoplasty a "quick fix."
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