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Best Rhinoplasty Procedure to Fix Wide Nostrils?

asked 2 years ago by carlembach in home
Latest answer by Richard W. Fleming, MD
Question viewed 3,031 times
Tags: nose, nostrils, female, scar

I'm caucasian, white female who has very wide nostrils. I usually see nose jobs with people that have a hump. I don't have that at all. My problem is I have a very big nose and have extremely wide nostrils that really spread across my face when I smile. It really is hideous. I never hear about narrowing of the nostrils.

My surgeon wants to narrow them by cutting at the side of each nostril and then closing it up in the natural seam of the nose. I am worried about scarring. He claims the scarring will be minimal and I can use cover up.

14 answers to Best Rhinoplasty Procedure to Fix Wide Nostrils?

Rhinoplasty for nostril width.

Your surgeon is correct. The wedge removed from the base of the nostrils should leave an inconspicuous scar. However, all noses look wider when you smile-that is normal.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Decreasing the Width or Flair of the Nostrils

Decreasing the width or flair iof the nostrils is accomplished via incisions at the base of your nose, which heal very well. The nostrils will still flair with animation, which is normal, but this will be less obvious.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty to reduce wide nostrils

Alar based excisions are a small incision on the inside floor of the nose and are not carried up along the lateral nostril rim. This can be done under local or general anesthesia and takes about 15 minutes to perform. They are also known as Weir excisions. Typically approximately 3 to 5 mm of skin is removed on the floor of the nose in or on the nostril face.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Reducing wide nostrils

If your surgeon is an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon, you can expect to get excellent results with narrowing the nostrils the way that he described to you, and with minimally noticible scarring. This is a fairly common procedure, and can give you quite a nice nose. Good luck!

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Fixing wide nostrils

Hello, It is possible to narrow broad or wide nostrils with a nasal base reduction or Weir incisions. A crescent of tissue is removed from the side of the nostrils and often times the incision is brought inside of the nostrils. In essence, we are removing a wedge of tissue from each nostril and then carefully stitching it back together so that the scar is minimal. This will narrow the extra skin of the ala and as needed narrow the nostrils to decrease the width of the nose. Thank you and... more

Paul S. Nassif, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Your nostrils may be narrowed with Rhinoplasty Surgery.

The computer-imaging you provide seems to be a realistic expectation after Rhinoplasty Surgery. You see narrowing of your nostrils and tip, along with correction of your tip asymmetry that is causing your lower nose to drift to your left. Your nostrils are not terribly wide, and I do not like to place any scars in the "natural seam of the nose" (nice description). Although these external scars may heal well, they may be unsightly and require subsequent dermabrasion. I like to... more

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Reduction of wide or large nostrils, but not in isolation.

The type of alar base reduction your surgeon is describing is quite appropriate for narrowing the nostrils and when done with meticulous technique, the scars should be a non-issue. I caution patients, however, that narrowing the nostrils can make the tip of the nose look wide or at least out of proportion. It's important to adjust not just the nasal base, but also a corresponding amount of nasal tip and bridge to achieve a pleasing appearance. Computer imaging pre-op can demonstrate this... more

David C. Pearson, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

Wide nostrils and risk of surgery

This is a procedure with a high satisfaction rate. While every surgery carries risk, the likelihood of unfavorable scarring is low and, in the hands of a skilled surgeon, you should be pleased with the results as dramatized in your computer mock up.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Wide Nostrils

Hi, There generally 2 types of nostril widths: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal narrowing can be achieved by making the incision on the inside of the intranasal groove and the vertical reduction which narrows the length and thickness of the nostril. Both incisions heal well especially in Caucasians. However, an incision is an incision and there is always a potential for poor healing. In general, most out comes are acceptable. Best, Dr.S.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

Rhinoplasty for wide nostrils

Yes, your surgeon is right. Excising skin at the base of the nose is frequently done and does narrow the nostrils. The scars heal very well, and I suspect that within a few months you won't need any cover up at all for them. Good luck.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

There are number of ways to make nostrils look less wide

The most common technique for narrowing nostrils is called alarplasty. I published an article on this in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery last spring. Even though there are external incisions, they usually heal so well that they are undetectable by the untrained eye. However, a number of other nasal findings can also make nostrils appear large. If the cartilage holding the tip of the nose up is weak or displaced, either naturally or from previous surgery, there is a long crease next... more

Steven J. Pearlman, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Narrowing nostrils during Rhinoplasty

Your plastic surgeon is correct. The way to narrow nostrils is to remove a wedge of nostril tissue where the nostril meets the cheek and then stich the nostril back down making it narrower and smaller. He/she is right that since the incision is located at the natural transition between cheek and nostril it is very inconspicuous, and often practically invisible. I have performed this procedure many many times always with good results. I don't think you need to be worried. Hopefully, your... more

Robert B. Pollack, MD
La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

Scarring and reduction of the nose

Your surgeon is correct in telling you that the scars will hide well. Alar reduction is used to decrease the size and/or width of the lower part of the nose. As plastic surgeons, we can't do "scarless" surgery, but we can place the scars in such a manner that they will be inconspicuous and minimal. The procedure that he is suggesting has a very long track record of producing a "scarless" appearance.

Ricardo Izquierdo, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.FaceAndBodyChicago.com

Nostril narrowing scarring should be minimal

Hi Carlembach, Nostril narrowing is a fairly common procedure done in conjunction with rhinoplasty to reduce the width or flare of the nostrils. I think your imaged photo looks good. If done properly, the scars heal beautifully and should be virtually invisible.