Will a Nose Job Change the Shape of my Nostrils?

In most cases of small hump removal, the nostrils do not change shape. A large hump removal will tend to give a slight flare to the nostrils after the surgery, but only when a large reduction of the hump and de-projection of the nose occurs. If this is significant enough, Weir’s alar base resections can be performed.

When considering cosmetic rhinoplasty, or "nose job", it is important to determine what aspects of you nose you WANT to change. The nostril shape CAN be changed, if that is what you are looking for, but if you like your nostril shape, you should be sure to let your surgeon know, so that the surgery can be planned accordingly. If you are looking to make the nostrils smaller or significantly change their shape, then the tip and alae will need to be worked on to try to attain the... more

Nostril shape should not change with nasal hump removal. If you see an experienced surgeon and decide exactly what will be done, that question is easily addressed.

Hello, With tip work, you may get alar retraction. Also, if you deproject the nasal tip, the ala can become wider. If it is something noticeable, your surgeon may perform another procedure later on where the nostrils are lowered using cartilage. Hope this helps answer your question. Dr. Nassif

 Taking down a dorsal nasal hump during rhinoplasty should not have any effect on the width of the nostrils.  If your nostrils are large they can be treated as well.

Hi Elva, If the hump on your nose extends down to your tip then the nostrils may flare a little. However, this can be avoided if the tip is addressed and re-supported. If your hump is only on the bone and doesn't extend to the tip then hump removal will not affect your tip. Hope this helps. Dr.S.

When rhinoplasty is performed to improve a nasal hump, nasal tip work is often required to create or maintain nasal harmony. Tip work through an open rhinoplasty approach may change the nostril shape to different degrees depending on what maneuvers are performed.

Removing a large bump from your nasal bridge will not widen your nostrils. If your tip is overprojected, and protrudes too far from your face, then correction of your tip overprojection may lead to nostril widening. In other words, if your surgeon moves the position of your tip closer to your face, then the nostrils will widen a bit. This is easily narrowed at the time of your Rhinoplasty Surgery if nostril width is important for you, or if your tip needs significant deprojection. I hope... more

Reducing a large nose can affect the nostrils. That is an excellent question that you ask. To simply reduce the hump without narrowing the nose or dropping the tip will in itself not have an effect on the position of the nostrils. However, if you drop your tip closer toward your face because your tip also projects outward, then this will indeed widen your nostrils or at a minimum change the angulation of the nostrils with respect toward your face and change from a more vertical position to... more

Hi Elva, Everything in rhinoplasty needs to be done to balance your nose.  An experienced rhinoplasty surgeon should be able to address what bothers you while achieving your cosmetic goals.  Choose your surgeon carefully, and let him/her worry about the details. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

Reducing a nasal hump is unlikely to change nostril shape. However, if the tip of your nose sticks out too far, it is what we call over-projected. Reducing nasal tip projection is like dropping a tent pole. The walls may flare out. In that case a small alarplasty will compensate. Alarplasty is removing a little nostril skin to reduce either existing or expected excess roundness to the nostrils. The incision is well hidden in a natural crease and rarely visible to the untrained eye. I... more

Reducing a nasal hump and then narrowing the nose (to prevent a wide, open roof deformity) will not always result in bowing out of the nostrils. BUT - reducing the projection of the nose tip and bringing it closer to the face WILL result in some flaring of the nostrils. Every nose is different. I would suggest you meet with a nose surgeon and after telling him/her what you want done with your nose, listen carefully to what you are told. Ask questions. Make sure every one of your questions is... more