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Pixie Nose Shape Require a Rhinoplasty Specialist?

asked 6 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Question viewed 18,833 times
Tags: nose, facial plastic surgeon

Some people think my nose is cute because it’s pixie or elf-like. When I was younger boys made fun of me, calling me stuck up because of my nose shape. When I look at my friends and celebs no one has a nose like mine. I don’t feel sexy and I’m obviously self conscious about it. I’m considering finding a plastic surgeon for a nose job. Does anyone know if some surgeons specialize by type of nose job, or is a nose job just a nose job?

42 answers to Pixie Nose Shape Require a Rhinoplasty Specialist?

+1

Pixie Nose

Rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging operations we do and therefore a nose job is never "just a nose job". Pick a surgeon who does a lot of rhinoplasties. Your procedure will be difficult because it will be necessary to de - rotate or lengthen your nose. I strongly suggest you have an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

+1

Help for Pixie Noses

First and foremost, it is clear as others have stated already that you choose a board certfied plastic surgeon who is highly experienced with all types of noses. The more experience your surgeon has with difficult noses such as yours the less chance that you will have a need for revisions or major complications. Complications can be aesthetic or functional (breathing issues). A pixie type nose requires carefully placed grafts and lengthening of the internal framework of the nose. These... more
Ashkan Ghavami, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.Ghavamiplasticsurgery.com

+2

Short or Pixie Nose

Hi, From your description, it appears that you have a small and up-turned nose. This is consistent with a nose that is short in comparison to the rest of facial features. You can have a good result if your surgeon is committed and patient. This is the type of operation that requires expertise and experience. Please make sure that your plastic surgeon is passionate about getting the best possible results and listens to your desires carefully and answers all your concerns. Hope... more
Ali Sajjadian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.DrSajjadian.com

+2

You need to see an experienced Rhinoplasty surgeon for pixie nose

I would be curious to see what your nose looks like. I suspect you may have had an injury to your septum where it was fractured causing a short and over rotated nose. As some of the other answers suggest, a rhinoplasty is the most difficult and rewarding facial plastic surgical technique. The best chance of a great result is with the first surgery, so chose your surgeon carefully. After you have interviewed several you will figure out who is qualified and experienced. Good luck. more
Ivan Wayne, MD

Oklahoma City Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Rhinoplasty or nose surgery requires someone who has performed many of those procedures

The most difficult plastic surgery procedure is a rhinoplasty. The reason for this is that the nose is three dimensional and requires correction of the underlying structures, soft tissue, cartilage and bone. The interrelationships of those three tissues can alter the shape and final appearance after rhinoplasty surgery. My recommendation would be to go to a surgeon who has done a large number of those procedures since they have more experience. A lot of general plastic surgeons only do a few... more
Scott Trimas, MD

Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Choose a Surgeon Who Specializes in Rhinoplasty

Choosing a qualified surgeon is the most important decision you can make when deciding to under go nasal surgery because rhinoplasty is considered the most diffcult procedure in cosmetic surgery. Every rhinoplasty is unique -- a nose job is never "just a nose job." Tips on Choosing a Rhinoplasty Specialist: First and foremost, choose an surgeon who specializes in nasal surgery. Your surgeon should be experienced at correcting both cosmetic problems and functional problems (such... more
C. Spencer Cochran, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.rhinoplasty-usa.com

+1

Treating upturned, pixie nose

Rhinoplasty surgeons don't usually sub specialize in only treating the upturned nose. If you are interested in improving this consulting with a few experienced rhinoplasty surgeons would be recommended. Counter-rotating the nasal tip is challenging but certainly feasible. I find that this is less difficult in patients like yourself who haven't had prior surgery. There is certainly a range of normal tip rotation (how upturned it is). Computer morphing of your nose would allow... more
Thomas A Lamperti, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Specialist is in order

The answer is simple. You don't look for a surgeon who specializes in certain kinds of rhinoplasty. Anyone who dose so is an imposter. I have worked with and lectured with the best rhinoplasty surgeons over the past 30 years. I have also specialized is all kinds or rhinoplasty work, including revision work and reconstructive work during this time. All the highly qualified, and talented, and experienced rhinoplasty surgeons are so because they can do whatever is best and... more
Richard Galitz, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Choosing an rhinoplasty surgeon

Choosing the right rhinoplasty surgeon is important.  I would focus on a surgeon who is a specialist in your ethnic characteristics and who can design a nasal surgery specific to your desires. 
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Don't let it be confusing...

There are obviously many good points that have been brought up here, and it can get a bit confusing. I don't think that you should be worrying about counter-rotating or deprojecting and that this is just too much info. Just know that this can definitely be corrected and that the surgeon will likely need to add cartilage (which they will borrow from your septum, ear, or rib!) to "build up" your nose. Look for someone experienced in rhinoplasty. You generally won't find a... more
Ryan N. Heffelfinger, MD

Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

How to treat a pixie nose?

Depending on where you live and the experience of the surgeons in your area you should visit with a few either Facial Plastic Surgeons Or Plastic Surgeons who specialize in nose surgery. A well trained surgeon who performs many nasal surgeries per year should be able to help you. If you can pick a surgeon who can image you on a computer, that might help you determine what you would like to have done. Good luck
Carlos Wolf, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

It's always about proportions!

Pixie or upward pointing noses were all the rage in the '80s.  This trend has changed to make noses more natural and soft.  Earlier rhinoplasty procedures really created a over-operated appearance.  The first thing to do is to carefully analyze your face.  The size of your face, the skin texture, the patient's height.   All of these variables affect the overall proportion of the nose with respect to the face and body.  Shorter, petite females can carry of a... more
Raghu Athre, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.athresurgical.com

+1

Difficult Rhinoplasty

The description you are giving of your nose is "pixie", and "stuck up", conjuring up an image of a small nose with an upwardly rotated tip. I am assuming that the changes you would ike to have relate to a relative lengthening or de-rotation of the nasal tip. This is actually a very difficult result to achieve in Rhinoplasty, requiring cartilage extension grafts. This is not, "just a nose job" and requires a Surgeon very experienced in Rhinoplasty to address... more
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

+1

Pixie Nose: Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder?

Your nose, the pixie nose, was once the most sought-after nose to have.  If you look at pictures of models in the 1960's, many have pixie noses.  Indeed, the rhinoplasties performed then, with the scooped bridge and turned-up tip, were designed to emulate the pixie nose.  Today, we think of a higher bridge and less-upturned tip as more esthetically ideal, but the pixie nose look is not dead.  Many of my patients from South America still want that look since there it... more
Minas Constantinides, MD

Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Seek a rhinoplasty specialist for your procedure

Since rhinoplasty can be one of the most complicated procedures in plastic surgery, it is recommended that you seek a specialist in that procedure. In your consultation you should ask your doctor if he performs the procedure frequently and see as many before and after pictures as you can to be comfortable that he/she can help you achieve the results you are looking for. Having realiatic expectations is also very important. A rhinoplasty specialist will help you understand what you can... more
Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

The truth about nose surgery

All nose jobs are NOT created equal. Your surgeon should have specialty training in rhinoplasty- this will most likely be a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon. You must visit with the doctor, review your goals, and look at many b/a photos of patients with SIMILAR noses to yours. You'll know when you've met the right physician. If I met with you I'd like to start with some additional information: 1. Your age 2. Whose nose do you like the most (celebs, etc) 3. In your mind, what... more
Ramtin Kassir, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

The Pixie Nasal Deformity

The pixie deformity as it refers to the nose usually refers to a nose that is considered too small for the face. It's turned up appearance is due to the shortness of the nose and can result in excessive intranasal "show". This problem can occur naturally or can be a result of nasal trauma as a child causing the nose not to grow as it normally would. Regardless of the cause, reshaping of the nose with lengthening and dorsum or bridge contouring is usually necessary. This is... more
Paul S. Howard, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty for short noses

A skillful rhinoplasty surgeon will have the ability to correct your short nose. It is important to find a skilled surgeon who is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon or Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. As long as they are skilled and have experience then your anatomy should not be a problem for them.
Jason B. Diamond, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty for Small Nose

Treatment of the pixie nose, or a smaller turned-up nose is indeed more tricky than standard reductive rhinoplasty. Treatment of this kind of nose may involve lengthening the nose or derotating the tip (derotating = making the nose less upturned). Often the techniques used to achieve these goals are the same used in revision rhinoplasty cases -- where cartilage grafting and other techniques are used to add structure to the nose. As such, I would recommend finding a board-certified facial... more
A. John Vartanian, MD

Glendale Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty for pixie nose

What you need is to find a Board Certified Plastic surgeon with experience. There is no specialist in this or that type of nose. Experienced rhinoplasty surgeon will deal with all forms and types of noses.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty for short noses

My goal is to create a nose that fits the patient's face. I see many patients who have had previous surgery that is technically good, but aesthetically, the nose does not fit the face. Be careful with alterations of a pixie nose!  It is difficult, and the aesthetic goals must be clear. 
Jay Calvert, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

PIxie nose

From what you said, it sounds like your nose is maybe too short and perhaps sticks up in the air too much. Also, depending on your height, it might actually be too small. Clearly, I cannot give you a great opnion without at least a photo, but everything I have mentioned so far can often be improved.
Stuart H. Bentkover, MD

Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Pixie Nose

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your nose, then you should definitely see a rhinoplasty specialist.  Review your concerns and I am sure he will review a simple plan to correct your problems.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Seek out an expert to treat your Pixie Nose

I am only guessing, but I bet by "pixie like" you mean that your nose is overly "cute" -- turned up, short, and very refined. You need to seek out a very, very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon to treat this condition, as most rhinoplasty maneuvers result in further refinement, further "turning up", and further shortening of the nose! Lengthening, turning "down", and de-pixifying a nose is actually more of a challenge than treating a large, humped, or... more
Laxmeesh Mike Nayak, MD

Saint Louis Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.nayakplasticsurgery.com

+1

Rhinoplasty requires an expert

Hi, I truly believe that rhinoplasty is one of the most complicated cosmetic operations we do. It is very important that you see someone who is experienced. This is especially true because when you have a "pixie" nose the operation to lengthen and de-rotate the nose is even more complex. Make sure that the surgeons you interview do at least 50 of these operations a year. Furthermore, make sure that you see their before and after photos. Make sure you see examples of noses just like... more
Benjamin C. Marcus, MD

Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.uwhealth.org

+1

A turned up nose or pixie nose can be changed

What is important is how pleased you are with your nose. A turned up nose can be turned down so to speak through rhinoplasty. When you go see a facial plastic surgeon, you should ask to see what your nose would look like by altering it on a computer with a special imaging program. The surgeon can get a better idea of how to achieve what you want. Also rhinoplasty surgeons are not created equally. There are surgeons who specialize in rhinoplasty more than others. One thing to realize is... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty for pixie nose

A pixie nose can indeed be very cute, or maybe it is too upturned and you think it will look better if it was changed some. I would go and consult several rhinoplasty specialists. Usually we do computer imaging at the consultation which will be helpful for you to preview the potential changes and decide whether this is something you like. One thing to keep in mind for you: it is much more difficult to change the shape of the pixie, or really small upturned nose, than to do a more common... more
Stella Desyatnikova, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nose job requires a rhinoplasty specialist.

Hi! Every nose is different, and so every rhinoplasty requires a different approach.  Your "pixie" nose is not a particular problem.  Every nose requires an expert 1)  to come up with the right plan for your anatomy, and 2)  to do the operation right.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

A nose job is a hard operation

A "Nose Job" which is commonly known as a Rhinoplasty is one of most difficult operations we do in Plastic Surgery. It is indeed a surgery of millimeters as the difference between a good and bad result is often 1-2 millimeters. Therefore, please make sure that you find a Board- Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in Rhinoplasty to correct your Pixie Nose as this even a more difficult variant of rhinoplasty. The key elements are to make sure your Rhinoplasty Surgeon... more
Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Many plastic surgeon will be comfortable with your rhinoplasty

Nasal shape is one of the most individual features of the face, and changing the shape of the nose can be performed in so many ways. It's important to remember are that a change in one aspect of the nose- the dorsum, the tip, the base, etc... can have a significant effect on how the rest of the nose is perceived. Your "pixie" nose is one type of form that patients sometimes request- some women with the type of nose you want will ask for theirs to be changed. The nasal form that... more
Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+1

You need to see a a facial plastic surgeon that specializes in rhinoplasties

Nasal surgery is a very complex operation and requires detailed planning by the surgeon followed by precise execution. This can only be performed correctly by a skilled surgeon specializing in this field.
Amir Moradi, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

A Nosejob Is a Nosejob

There are no specialists for each type of rhinoplasty. There are some who excel in ethnic noses. However, when it comes to a regular rhinoplasty all you want is someone who is really good with rhinoplasties. Get a few opinions, look at their results and then decide. Also make sure you discuss in exact words what your desires and expectations are. Regards
Tanveer Janjua, MD

Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Correction of pixie nsoe with rhinoplasty

A pixie nose is one form of nasal shape which occurs in nature. Most patients seeking rhinoplasty have large noses (large hump and large tip). In your case, your nose is small. However, the principals of rhinoplasty surgery, whether it is reducing the nose or enhancing the nose, is the same. My recommendation is to find a surgeon who has an interest in rhinoplasty surgery. To some degree, the number of cases performed and the amount of years the surgeon has been in practice, does matter.... more
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty

Hi, Nature gives us noses of many shapes and sizes. Your nose is different from others but is in no way unique from other patients seeking rhinoplasty. As well, your self consciousness or other emotions, are in NO way different from the typical rhinoplasty patient. Your are definitely a great rhinoplasty candidate. With good results your outlook should improve. I published a study on patients who had rhinoplasty and showed that African American patients had a statistically significant... more
Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

+1

Get several opinions and look at lots of Rhinoplasty pictures

Steep learning curve in plastic surgery for nose jobs. You need to find a surgeon who has done many operations and good documentation of the results. Take your time and do your homework.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nose Job - "The hardest Cosmetic Procedure for a Plastic Surgeon to Learn"

Because it takes many years of experience to learn how to perform a great looking Rhinoplasty, I would recommend you go to very experienced Plastic Surgeon. Of all the Cosmetic Procedures, with Rhinoplasty it is vitally important you seek out experience and expertise.
Christopher Costanzo, MD

Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do your homework and schedule a few consultations to evaluate your rhinoplasty surgeon

Choosing the right doctor is a complex decision that involves many issues. First make sure they are licensed and board certified. Check reviews. Meet with at least two and maybe three physicians to discuss your concerns. There are many physicians who specialize in rhinoplasty and you should not be afraid to ask.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Plastic surgeons are trained in rhinoplasty or "nose-jobs"

Dear Mary, All plastic surgeons are trained in rhinoplasty or "nose-jobs." However, much fewer have additional specialized training or fellowships in rhinoplasty. It is important that you meet with the surgeon and talk to some of the other patients who have had surgery by him or her. Most rhinoplasty surgeons do not specialize in a particular type of nose. However, some do concentrate more on secondary rhinoplasty (to correct the initial rhinoplasty from other surgeons). So,... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Pixie nose - seek a surgeon dedicated to nose surgery

Dear Mary, from Providence, I am often asked this question about a "specialist" for a particular procedure. As a plastic surgeon who does a fair amount of cosmetic nose surgery I like to tell my patients that as in any procedure they are interested in they should find a surgeon that has dedicated a significant part of his practice to that particular procedure. I know of hardly any surgeons that just do one type of procedure. I suggest to start by meeting the surgeon,... more
S.Pasquale Maggi, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cannot say "a nose job is a nose job"

As a specialist in rhinoplasty, I would definitely not say that "a nose job is a nose job." Like anything else, find a surgeon who does a fair number of them. You will more likely get the result that you seek, and if there are problems, more likely have the best chance at an optimal outcome in the event of revision surgery. Good luck.
Manish H. Shah, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Specialist is a relative term when it comes to nose surgery

Hi, I have had the pleasure of reading the posts regarding your question. I agree with most of the posts. The term "specialist" is a relative term. There are many of us who consider ourselves specialists in the nose, both from the Facial Plastic Surgery group and from the Plastic Surgery group. There are few of us who do only, or mostly noses in our practice. The other thing I agree with the most is to look for before and after pictures of noses that look like yours - some... more
Behrooz Torkian, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty (which some refer to as a “nose job”), is difficult

Rhinoplasty (which some refer to as a “nose job”), is the most difficult of all facial cosmetic surgery procedures. The nose is the central feature on the face, yet an aesthetically pleasing nose is one that gets out of the way of the other facial features. An attractive nose has a smooth transition from the arched medial eyebrow downward to the lateral nasal tip. The nose should not detract from beautiful eyes, lips, jaw lines, and smiles. When looking at someone's face, the... more
Michael A. Persky, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

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