Rhinoplasty Q&A
80%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers
that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not.
See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings
or Add Your Review
View Before and Afters
Average Rhinoplasty Cost: $5,975
Learn about Rhinoplasty
5,053 people and 803 doctors are talking about Rhinoplasty
Get Free Email Updates
Is There a Way to Do a Rhinoplasty on a Drooping Nose (Esp when Smiling) Without Lengthening the Upper Lip?
asked 11 months ago by texasrhinoplasty in Addison, TX
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 412 times
Tags: droopy, downturned, options, upper lip
Is cutting the muscle (causing the upper lip to lengthen) the only way to fix a "drooping" nose?
15 answers to Is There a Way to Do a Rhinoplasty on a Drooping Nose (Esp when Smiling) Without Lengthening the Upper Lip?
+1
Drooping tip rhinoplasty without lengthening the upper lip.
Drooping tip rhinoplasty without lengthening the upper lip is possible. Make sure you see an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who does natural noses and you can meet with his patients.
+1
Rhinoplasty to correct drooping nose w/o lengthening upper lip
During a rhinoplasty a drooping nose is elevated by removing excess cartilage from the nasal tip and bridge. Sometimes a droopy tip is supported with columellar struts. If the tip plunges upon smiling, it is best treated by releasing the depressor septi muscle. When lifting the tip upwards, it gives the illusion of lengthened upper lip.
+1
Droopy nose
Droopy nose, especially when smiling (also called a tension tip) is fixed all the time without changing the length (or height) of the upper lip. Although optical illuson will suggest that the upper lip has lenghtened since you'll see more of it after the tip has been elevated and rotated upward.
+1
Nasal tip
An easy option to keep the upper lip still while smiling is to clip a band like muscle, at the roof of the upper lip. This does not change the length at rest it just will not shorten when smiling. It is a minor procedure with little down time. Think about getting an office visit with a plastic surgeon in your area for more information.
Rodger Wade Pielet, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Rhinoplasty for droopy tip
The most effective way to address a droopy tip is not by cutting the muscle but by cartilage grafting and tip suturing techniques which in fact can shorten the upper lip
+1
Worried about lengthening upper lip during Rhinoplasty
It's a matter of semantics. When the tip is rotated up, the space between the upper lip and nose appears longer because it is no longer hidden by the droopy (rotated downward) nasal tip.
+1
Correction of a drooping tip in rhinoplasty
When the tip is rotated and elevated in a rhinoplasty procedure the upper lip is not lengthened to any degree. As far as cutting a depressor muscle, this is the 'weakest' maneuver and has the least impact on tip position and shape, and is seldom done. The lip can look longer as the shadow cast by the drooping tip is lessened, but the size will not change.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd
Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Correcting a Drooping Tip
Dear Texas,
It is possible to correct a drooping nasal tip without lengthening the upper lip. "Lengthening" the upper lip may be an illusionary effect simply because more of the upper lip becomes visible when the tip is rotated upward, and may not be due to the depressor septi muscle being cut. Good luck!
+1
Droopy nose
Rotating the tip often creates the illusion of lip lengthening as the area previously covered is more visible. How much you would like to see is something you can try and determine with your surgeon before the procedure. Very often the increased lip show is desirable, if you limit it you may continue to have some droop on smiling.
+1
Droopy tip procedure
Often times when tip projection is poor, a tip or columellar graft, or both, will correct the problem. cutting the nasalis septi muscle is for a "plunging" tip during wide smiling. it may not be necessary.
Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1
Treatment of Droopy Nasal Tip without lengthening the upper lip
There are many factors and structures that contribute to the nasal tip support and system. Regarding your question with treating a droopy nasal tip without lengthening the upper, tip rotation can address this issue. One way to do this is by trimming the upper lateral cartilages and columellar strut grafting. However, you need to consult with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon to have your nose evaluated and various options be presented to you. Check out his before and after pictures to get a...
more
+1
The upper lip lengthens after the caudal septum is treated
The reason that upper lips lengthen after rhinoplasty is that the surgeon has changed the septum behind the columella--the so called caudal septum. Even patients who have saddled noses from septal fractures have upper lip lengthening, regardless of what their noses looked like before the injury, because the septum has been broken.
Surgeons have tried to treat a pulled upper lip by cutting the muscle, but I never do that and can correct the deformity by trimming the caudal septum...
more
Mark B. Constantian, MD
Nashua Plastic Surgeon
Nashua Plastic Surgeon
+1
No droop possible
In most cases it is possible to raise the tip of the nose without lengthening the upper lip. A consult with an experienced facial plastic or plastic surgeon should involve a thorough explanation of the factors involved and how your anatomy impacts the type of surgery needed.
+1
S There a Way to Do a Rhinoplasty on a Drooping Nose (Esp when Smiling) Without Lengthening the Upper Lip?
There is a way to rotate the tip without physically changing the upper lip. However, this may create the illusion that your lip has been lengthened, depending on the height of your lip and degree of rotation.
+1
Fixing a Droopy Tip
No, cutting the muscle is designed to treat a "plunging tip" or a nasal tip that descend when talking etc. If the nose is in good position, then cutting the muscle should help. However, most of the nasal tips that suffer form this are too low and need to be elevated through a standard rhinoplasty - helping to improve the shape and position of the nose. Without photos, there is no way to give you an opinion. Consult with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon in your area to understand...
more
Doctors Nearby
Babak Azizzadeh, MD
3 recommendations
and
391 answers
View Website
Ashkan Ghavami, MD
12 recommendations
and
117 answers
View Website
Toby Mayer, MD
4 recommendations
and
2,916 answers
View Website
RealSelf Sponsors
ADVERTISEMENT