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Weir Reduction or Another Procedure for Large Nose?

asked 2 years ago by Pinkismyfavoritecolor in Las Vegas
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 1,376 times
Tags: nose, big nose

I've been considering a rhinoplasty to reduce the large appearance of my nose. I'm happy with the profile, but not with the width. A couple doctors suggested weir reduction only, but I'm actually more concerned with the width right above the tip. I'd prefer definition here as opposed to only reducing the weirs. I DON'T WANT a dramatic change at all, I prefer not to have co-workers notice right off the bat. I'm worried a "weir reduction" only will look distorted and squished. Is it possible to create a slightly smaller refined version of my current nose, or is weir the best procedure?

16 answers to Weir Reduction or Another Procedure for Large Nose?

Weir Reductions

Weir reductions will not narrow your nose above the tip. Well-performed Weirs will not give you a distorted look. Without pictures it is difficult to make specific recommendations. It is important for you to change your nose to meet your expectations,regardless of what technique is used.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Rhinoplasty for Large Nose Without Weir Excision

Hi Pink, Your nasal width fullness just above your nasal tip can be narrowed and refined giving your nose more definition. By narrowing that area, your lower nasal width will be proportionally larger. Rhinoplasty is sculpting. Changing one area often requires a small change in the adjacent area to maintain a natural and smooth transition. Additionally, narrowing and defining the supra-tip area will likely exaggerate the wideness of the upper 1/3 of your nose, necessitating narrowing of your... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty to reduce large appearance of nose

There are multiple procedures in the field of rhinoplasty that address wide mid third, upper third, and lower third of the nose or tip. All of which can be done through a closed or endonasal approach and give more or less of a dramatic change. The Weir reductions are only to reduce the size of the nostrils and will not affect the rest of the nose. It is best to consult with a surgeon who has done thousands of rhinoplasties prior to embarking on this and make sure there is good... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Beware of scars left behind by a Weir procedure

Dear Pink I think it would be important to define what you are not happy with and what type of procedures you would benefit from. As mentioned here this is very difficult to address with a visual aid to comment on. If your tip is too wide there are many maneuvers to narrow it, if your supratip is too wide, that can also be addressed. A weir excision could address a wide alar base, but can leave symmetric scar at the alar base. If not too much alar base reduction is necessary a sill... more

Robert Schwarcz, MD
New York Oculoplastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and Weir excisions

It's hard to give accurate advice without an examination, but based upon your complaints you will require more than Weir excisions alone to reduce the width of your nose. If the area in the region of the tip itself is wide, the cartilage can be reduced and sutures placed to narrow this region. If the area above that is wide, you may need bony or septal reduction. Your colleagues will not necessarily notice a change if you have a natural result. I recommend seeing a board-certified... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Procedure for large nose

It is possible to refine the width right above the tip without doing weir incisions. You may perform osteotomies and narrow the bones slightly. Slight narrowing of the tip may help as well. I would really need to see photos to determine the best options for you. Thank you and best of luck. Dr. Nassif

Paul S. Nassif, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Wide nose and Weir excisions

I think you can only get a useful response if you submit photos of the front, bottom ,and side of the nose with your questions. It is rare that an alar base narrowing procedure alone would benefit the patient , but I have done a few cases with only that maneuver.

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD
Oakland Facial Plastic Surgeon

Options for rhinoplasty and wide nose.

These are two completely different options and will result in two different appearances. The area to which you refer is called the supratip break. IF this is thinned it give the appearance of rotating the tip slightly upwards but will do little to decrease the width of the nose and definitely not the nostrils. A weir prcedure WILL decrease the width of the nose and nostrils

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty Surgery may change the width of your nose.

If you're unhappy with the wide appearance of your nose, this can be narrowed with Rhinoplasty Surgery. A Weir-procedure is resection of the nostril where it attaches to your cheek. I'm not a big fan of this procedure since you may have visible scarring. I like to narrow nostrils by excising a portion of the nasal-sill which results in inconspicuous scarring. Feel free to email a full face frontal and profile photo, and I'll be happy to share my thoughts with you. I've attached a link to... more

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Weirs excisions might not be what you need/want

It is very difficult to advise you without a photo, but what you describe does not sound like something that is improved by Weir's excisions. Weirs excisions, also known as alar base reductions, make the width of the nose smaller at the nostrils, or make the nostrils smaller (depending on how the excision is preformed). To see if it is really your nostrils that contribute to the width of your nose, draw a line straight down from the corner of your eye (by your nose). If the nostrils lie... more

Theda C. Kontis, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

facialplasticsurgerymd.com

Weir Reduction for large nose

Pink, It is impossible to give you an answer approaching coherence much less accuracy without the benefit of an exam much less a photograph. You appear to be describing a nasal tip or a mid nose issue. Each area has MULTIPLE surgical procedures intended to correct its deformities. The tip can be refined by decreasing the width and flaring of the LOWER LATERAL CARTILAGES making it up. This MAY solve your issue. If the width you refer to involves the middle vault, you may need nasal narrowing... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Weir excisions will reduce width

Weir excisions will reduce width. There are many options available for reducing nasal tip bulbosity or width. Without seeing pictures, I cannot comment on you specifically. You should see another surgeon to discuss the options again if you are not satisfied with the one's that you have met already.

Kevin Ende, MD
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon

It is possible to do what you want.

You may or may not require Weir excisions after the area above your tip is refined. See an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and let him tell you if he thinks you will need Weir excisions as well.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Alar base excision for wide tip

Hi Pink, All of the procedures mentioned can be performed to give you a subtle vs. more dramatic change. It's all a question of degree. If you are concerned about the width above your tip, you are right to ask since Weir reduction alone will not accomplish this goal. Weir reduction is just one technique for narrowing wide or flared nostrils. Talk to your surgeon about how he or she will accomplish this in the natural way you desire. More than looking into the details of specific procedures,... more

Jason Litner, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

It is important that your nose fits your face

Weir alarplasty refers to one specific type of nostril reduction. This is for nostrils that flare outward. Reducing excess width is a similar incision. To reduce the tip of your nose, there is no need to reduce the nostril size. However, for an aesthetic balance, alar reduction may also be helpful. The incisions are rarely visible except to an expert or if someone is very close and looking for incisions with a magnifying glass. A qualified rhinoplasty surgeon can help make all these... more

Steven J. Pearlman, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bulbous Tip

Hi, Difficult to say without seeing your nose, but you may need a combination of both. A Weirs reduction will not reduce your tip but narrow the nostril complex. A open approach tipplasty with a cartilage graft can improve the shape of your tip making is less boxy. These cosmetic features are similar to the African American nose. Best, Dr.S