Can Rhinoplasty Refine a Thick "Meaty" Female Nose?

Dear JustMaybe, I think your nose looks perfectly natural and normal. I think your friend was beeing rude and inappropriate. You have a very pleasing normal Asian face with nice features. Rhinoplasty can be done but reducing the thickness of the skin is impossible. Cartilage grafts can be used to build up the bridge and elevate and narrow the tip. This would change your nose significantly to a more caucasion or Occidental type of nose. If you never disliked your nose and are happy with your... more

Rhinoplasty surgery is not performed for thick skin on the nose; it is not a skin operation. The skin is lifted up, the bone and the cartilage is sculpted, and the skin is placed back down. Thick skin will obscure refinement in the nose after a rhinoplasty. The skin cannot be thinned down. The thickest skin on the nose typically is in the tip with thick olive, oily, sebaceous-type skin. Very thick-tip-skinned individuals are probably not going to get the desired cosmetic result from... more

Justmaybe, I do see patients in the Chicago area of all ethnic backgrounds and rhinoplasty is a common request, second to upper eyelid procedures in patients of Asian descent. As I viewed your pictures you look very plesant and attractive and I don't see anything really wrong with your nose. It is unfortunate that your friend has been so critical and it is certain to bruise feelings. Nothing needs to be done at all. Certainly your nose can be changed with rhinoplasty and others will... more

I had a patient who had an ethnic nose come asking to look like someone not of their ethnicity. Typically, the media glorifies the small petite nose of the caucasian starlets. After the patient received the procedure, her family and church responded in a negative fashion because she lost part of her ethnic look and charm. With that said, there are things that can be done to you nose in part or in total to make it look more petite; 1. Defatting of the skin: a technique that can help to... more

Thinning of the subcutaneous tissue can give minimal changes in your type of nose. Patients who have this surgery are often not happy because the expect a thin skinned nose and this can't be done. Your nose looks good the way if is. It can be made to look smaller by doing a chin implant to balance your face. This would be I think a more satisfying procedure for you.

To JustMaybe, Hi! The lower part of your nose and the tip of your nose can be made more defined and "sculptured" with internal sutures and grafts. Since this is something you have thought about for a while, go ahead. But this is tricky surgery, and the correction of the "ethnic" nose (Asian, African American) is a subspecialty in its own right. So make sure to go to a very experienced surgeon, and ask to see lots of before and after pictures.

Yes a rhinoplasty can refine a thick nose......to some degree...mostly depending on the thickness of the skin. You have to see a surgeon who has experience and confidence in thinning the skin of the nose. The other major maneuver involved is cartilage grafting to give the nose shape, support, and usually projection. These noses need material added not removed which only makes them look saggier and less defined. Thinning and/or moving the nostrils medially may also help if done conservatively more

One of the biggest challenges in rhinoplasty is working with a variety of skin types.  In some thicker skin noses, the underlying support of the nose can be weak.  Surgeons who work with thicker skin can discuss ways to create a more defined nasal tip based on your anatomy, both cartilage and skin.  

Rhinoplasty to define the tip and lower third in thick skinned patients is very difficult. I would not recommend thinning the soft tissue under the skin any more than what is resting on the lower cartilages when doing an open rhinoplasty. Thinning the soft tissue may cause indentations. If you want more of a dorsal augmentation or tip augmentation that can be done. Narrowing the nose can be done as well. Of course, your nose has a nice profile and reasonable tip projection right now.... more

Yes, rhinoplasty can refine your nose.  You should discuss your particular concerns with your surgeon and he/she will explain what may be achieved.  Good luck !