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Is it Possible to Narrow Nose W/ Short Nasal Bones? (photo)

asked 6 months ago by Aly157 in Texas
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 497 times
Tags: candidate, narrow

I'm interested in narrowing my wide nose & fixing my tip. I've not had previous surgery. The first surgeon I consulted, a general PS, expressed that my nose was abnormal & he felt uncomfortable performing on me. (He subsequently referred me to an out-of-town rhinoplasty specialist). Apparently, my nose is mostly cartilage - even the upper 1/3. The pictures provided outline my "nasal bones." Outside the line = bone. Inside = cartilage. Considering this, what advice do you have? Any concerns?

13 answers to Is it Possible to Narrow Nose W/ Short Nasal Bones? (photo)

Rhinoplasty in Patient with Short Nasal Bones

With all due respect, while doing rhinoplasty for over 35 years I have seen patients with short nasal bones, but in your picture your markings suggest there is basically an absence of nasal bones. This is extremely unlikely - I've never seen this. With short nasal bones grafts must be used to maintain support of the middle 1/3rd of your nose.You need to be evaluated by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Rhinoplasty is generally successful for all anatomic situations.

Hi Aly157: The photographs you submitted are quite interesting and helpful, and indeed you have a disproportionate amount of cartilage in your nose versus bone. However, the principles are the same: You need to have a reduction rhinoplasty in which some of the cartilage is removed, allowing the nose to narrow. Typically in this case, it is the upper lateral cartilages that must be dealt with, since that tissue is occupying the midsection of the nose. At the... more

Robert Kotler, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Short nasal bones

Short nasal bones, thick skin, excess width, poor projection etc. are all problems that experienced rhinoplasty surgeon deal with on a regular basis. You can have a nice result if you see someone with experience and comfort using a variety of techniques, not someone who does the same procedure on every patient. The surgeon you saw should be complemented for referring you on to someone with a greater interest in rhinoplasty. Don't obsess about your anatomy, let your surgeon decide how to... more

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Is it Possible to Narrow Nose W/ Short Nasal Bones?

Until I examined you or see a CT scan of your nose, it would be hard to believe this diagnosis! Even if this is true, rhinoplasty can be done. The principle of this procedure is the same. You do have a nice profile except for your tip, so, the dorsum need not be reduced too much. If the concern is with lateral osteotomy, spreader grafts will stabilize the upper nasal vault.

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Possible to narrow nose w/short nasal bones

It is certainly possible to narrow short nasal bones by performing both medial and lateral osteotomies. Look for a rhinoplasty specialist who has extensive experience in the field of rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty and the short nasal bone should not be a problem.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Rhinoplasty

Your posted photos show a typical thick skinned, wide bridge nose with a polybeak due a bit of excess septal cartilage at the lower front aspect of the cartilage. You say the general plastic surgeon referred to a rhinoplasty specialist because of anatomical concerns but you do not say if you saw the specialist or what he/she said. The nasal bones are considered short when the lower edge is less than half the distance from the radix to the septal angle. The outer lower ends of the lines... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Your nasal bones are probably longer than you think, and you may be a candidate for nasal narrowing with Rhinoplasty Surgery.

I read your concerns and reviewed your photos: I doubt that the outline you drew on your nose is accurate. Only an examination could determine the extent of your nasal bones, but I doubt your entire nasal bridge is cartilaginous. Consider consulting several rhinoplasty specialists to see what you might expect to achieve after well-performed Rhinoplasty Surgery. My hunch is that you might achieve adequate narrowing and tip refinement. I hope this is helpful. Dr. Joseph more

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Rhinoplasty

It is certainly possible to perform a rhinoplasty on your nose. I thinhk that you have to be realistic with expectations because at least from the photos, your nasal tip and tissues appear wide. An exam in person is cirtical.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Is it Possible to Narrow Nose W/ Short Nasal Bones?

I have performed Rhinoplasty and complicated Revision Rhinoplasty for over 20 years and I'm not sure that your nasal bones are indeed as you have outlined them. Even with short nasal bones, the nose can be narrowed, so this may be a moot point. It rather becomes a matter of "what technique" is best to accomplish the desired goal. Closed Rhinoplasty with medial and lateral osteotomies and Tip Plasty to thin the nasal tip would be required IMHO. more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Revision rhinoplasty for the wide nose.

Revision rhinoplasty for the wide nose can be done even if you have short nasal bones. The bridge, mid vault and tip can be narrowed and properly supported even if you have underdeveloped nasal bones. For 35 years I have done noses like yours with the open approach which allows the surgeon to have a better view of the problems and suture grafts in place, etc.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nose

You have a very wide oversized nose and a rhinoplasty done by an experienced woul really enhance your already pretty face. Get more opinions

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Narrowing the Nose with Short Nasal Bones

Hi, This would be a pretty standard rhinoplaslty for an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon. If your upper lateral cartilages are contributing to the width of your nose then dividing them from the dorsal septum would narrow the width along with a good osteotomy. Again there is nothing unusual about your nose as far as rhinoplasty is concerned. Best, Dr.S.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

Rhinoplasty with short nasal bones

I think you can achieve an excellent improvement although there are limitation including that of thick skin an open rhinoplasty should be able to narrow and define the time and central nose and the bones can still be moved to narrow the upper nose