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Refining Nose Sides Possible with a Nose Job?

asked 2 years ago by Saphira87 in New York
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 1,566 times
Tags: nose, thin, tip

Hi there, I have been considering a "nose job" for a while where I would just want the sides of my nose thinned and refined (and perhaps the tip refined a bit if it was really needed for balance).

My main focus are the sides though and I'm happy with the rest of my nose. I think it's cute and petite from the side it just looks kind of piggy and thick from the front. What do you recommend for me and could I achieve my desired look without having my bones chiseled? Thanks

19 answers to Refining Nose Sides Possible with a Nose Job?

Nose refinement

It does appear that your nose could be narrowed somewhat and made more refined. Of course only a consultation with a plastic surgeon can give you a complete understanding of what can be done for you.

Howard T. Bellin, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Nose job to refine nose width and tip

The only way to narrow the sidewalls of the nose is to perform osteotomies and narrow the nasal mucosa, also known as “breaking” the nose. That is the only way possible to narrow the nose. Thick, oily skin will be a limitation to any surgical enhancement of the nose because it just does not allow for excellent definition of the cartilaginous and bony structures once they have been reshaped.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Rhinoplasty

Refining the nasal features without changing your look too much certainly can be achieved. If you have very thick skin, it may be difficult to refine the nasal tip as much as you would like.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasties are best planned with additional photographic views

Saphira, Sounds like and looks like that you would benefit from a surgical rhinoplasty. You are very attractive, and a nose job would help to harmonize your nose with the rest of your face. However, I can't give you specifics without side views ("laterals") and a "worm's eye" view (from your feet looking up into your nostrils). I suspect that you will require a full rhinoplasty, involving the tip, sides, and top.... Usually, I make a small incision in the skin of the colum more

Michael C. Pickart, MD
Ventura Plastic Surgeon

Refining the thickness of your nose can be accomplished with Rhinoplasty Techniques

In order to thin the nose the nasal bones would require to be thinned and brought closer together. The tip is also a little wide requiring a finesse tip rhinoplasty. Your nose is also a little short causing ti to look a little piggy (upturned), this would only be corrected by slightly derotating the tip using cartilage grafting.

Andrew Jacono, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Refining of the sides of the nose is possible with a rhinoplasty.

The side walls would need to be fractured to narrow them the right way. You are right is thinking that you will need the tip narrowed as well. See an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who does natural noses that you like.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Refining the nose with a finesse rhinoplasty

More photos would be required to give more accurate suggestions. However, it appears to me that you would benefit from a finesse rhinoplasty to thin and enhance your nose. Typically the procedure is done under local anesthesia with twighlight sleep.

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Nose sides can be refined with rhinoplasty.

Hi. Your expectations are realistic, and I think a good rhinoplasty will accomplish what you want. A step by step surgical plan is made after detailed examination, so I would not tell you exactly what you need based on one photograph. I do think the bones probably should be narrowed as well.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgery for "piggy" nose

A side view would show the upturned tip. In this case, you may benefit from a septal extension graft which would push the tip forward and give the illusion of a longer and thinner nose. In this instance, you could also benefit from enhanced projection along with nostril reduction. Without cutting the bones, your only option to give the illusion of a thinner nose is to add a graft to the top of the bridge to make it appear taller and thinner.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Thinning of Lateral Nostril Thickness

Hi Saphira, The thickness of your nostril rims laterally is very difficult to correct in most cases. At your consultation for rhinoplasty, make sure that your prospective surgeon addresses this, and ask to see photos of patients with a similar nose to yours. Do choose your surgeon most carefully. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nasal refinement and balance

Your nose is slightly widened at the nostril level, and as Dr. Joseph has stated, this can be due to smiling. However, reduction of the base of the nose can be performed, but you should realized that the overall balance of the nose will also be changed. The upper bony part of your nose may appear wider in relation to the "new" thinner lower part. Balance in rhinoplasty surgery is the goal so that the entire nose fits well together. Talk to your surgeon and discuss all aspects... more

Ricardo Izquierdo, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.FaceAndBodyChicago.com

Rhinoplasty Surgery for nasal refinement.

The width of your nostrils and tip can be refined with Rhinoplasty Surgery. Everyone's nose will widen with smiling, so your single smiling photo is not the gold-standard for determining what's best for you. If your bridge is perfect, then you may not need osteotomies. You should consult several board-certifird, experienced Rhinoplasty specialists with many favorable photos to determine what's best for you. I hope you find this helpful.

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Rhinoplasty

Hi, Without having seen your profile photo, here is what I think: You have an attractive face but your nose doesn't fit your face. The nasal tip is too bulky, which is due to cartilage, which can be refined. Partial nasal bone narrowing would be desirable as well, especially if you are going to make the tip more refined. Again, you want the nose to be natural and fit your face.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Refining the sides of the nose is possible

Judging by your picture and what you describe, it sounds like you have wide nasal bones along with some excess tip width. A rhinoplasty could certainly be performed to move the sides of the nose inward making for a thinner shape, along with refining and shaping the tip to match the rest. You would not chisel the nasal bones, but reposition them. The chisel is used when a nose has a large hump that needs to be removed. This should not significantly change the contour of your bridge,... more

Louis M. DeJoseph, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

Limited rhinoplasty is an option for certain patients

Narrowing or refining the sides of your nose with a small amount of tip narrowing is certainly possible. How much or how little work is done to a nose is a combination of patient preferences and surgeon recommendations. Also, other views of your nose would be needed to make a more complete assessment. I hope this information helps.

Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

You need to see a plastic surgeon

It is important to see a doctor and explain what you want -- I can do many different things to a nose, but I need to see you and examine you in person first before telling you what can be done.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Nasal Tip Refinement

Hi, The tip of your nose is wider than your bridge. This adds the thick look of your nostrils. Also your nostrils are slightly wide as well. You can refine this look by reducing and reshaping your Lower lateral or tip cartilages. Also a slight nostril narrowing may do the trick. Overall it is difficult to say without seeing your profile but I think you can get away with minor tip work. Best, Dr.S.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

Rhinoplasty of side of nose

The sides of your nose that you see in the mirror are made of both cartilage and bone. To narrow this region, you will need to have both the cartilage and bone reduced. In most cases, we also reduce the nasal tip to achieve harmony and balance with both the rest of the nose and the face (I would never describe your nose as piggy!). Good luck and best wishes, /nsn.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

What you desire is possible with Rhinoplasty

To have a 'thinner' nose from the frontal view is possible, but it would not be possible without resetting the bones slightly inward. Patients have fullness in this region on the side of the nose because of the position of the maxilla bone. It is very common in rhinoplasty to place an osteotomy or break in the bone in this area to move it in slightly. You also want to make sure you have balance between your top half and bottom half of the nose. You wouldn't want to only make the sides... more