Should I Get a Rhinoplasty or is my Skin too Thick? Will It Affect my Breathing?

asked 9 months ago by flyguyaj in Woodbridge, VA
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 393 times
Tags: breathing, candidate, deviated septum, Indian, thick skin

I am a 26 year old male I am Indian (from India) and I understand I have thick skin around my tip. How much will this affect my result on the tip of my nose, Will I be able to see a visible difference? I also have a deviated septum and will need a Septoplasty and my Turbinites need to be reduced. Will this affect my breathing positively or negatively? I'd like a second opinion PLEASE HELP!!

10 answers to Should I Get a Rhinoplasty or is my Skin too Thick? Will It Affect my Breathing?

Should I Get a Rhinoplasty or is my Skin too Thick? Will It Affect my Breathing?

Your skin doesn't appear to be that much thicker than average, so I se no reason that a Rhinoplasty couldn't thin and reduce he size and shape of your nose. The nasal bones are crooked (from nasal trauma), there is a dorsal hump and a wide nasal tip. The chin is weak, on profile, so a chin implant should be considered to balance out the lower face. The Septoplasty and turbinate reduction should increase the nasal airway and improve the breathing. more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Here is the truth about thick skin rhinoplasty...

Hi, First of all you cannot get a second opinion online. You need to be seen and examined. However, your skin does not appear to be extremely thick. Even if it is very thick, very nice results can be achieved with proper rhinoplasty technique. Thick skin rhinoplasty uses more structural grafts and less excisional technique. But you need to see a specialist who does tons of good rhinoplasty because its always easiest to get a good result in a primary... more

Shervin Naderi, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thick skin

Thick skin is always a challenge but, from your pictures, I think you should do well. Male tips should not be overe done. As to the breathing, it should be better

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Skin thickness when considering rhinoplasty

I tend to agree with one of the other posters in that your skin actually seems more on the average (or maybe even thin) side. I can clearly see the outline of your cartilages in your tip. You have a classic "tension nose" that could use some de-projection, straightening, and elevation of the starting point of the nose ( the radix). You would definitely see a difference after rhinoplasty. Your breathing can be improved (and should be addressed) during the... more

Matthew Bridges, MD
Richmond Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.matthewbridgesmd.com

Indian skin and rhinoplasty

Thick skin at the nasal tip can obscure the fine detail of the underlying structure at the tip. However, based on your photos, you will definitely notice a difference in your tip. From an aesthetic standpoint, you would benefit from straightening the nose, slightly augmenting the radix, refining the dorsum and tip, and also a chin implant. (A small chin is part of the reason your nose looks out of proportion to your face.) From a functional standpoint, the deviated septum and turbinate... more

Anita Patel, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Is Skin too Thick for Rhinoplasty

In a word - no. Thicker skin definitely can make a difference in some patients, in that changes made to the tip may not show through as well. However it will not affect the Septoplasty, Turbinate Surgery or correction of the external nasal deviation. I can see the outline of the tip cartilages in your photos so I am inclined to believe your skin, although perhaps thick, will not pose a significant problem. However if your surgeon has concerns perhaps he sees something not apparent in the... more

Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

Thick skin and rhinoplasty

A septoplasty and turbinate surgery is done to improve airflow dynamics through the nose and is done out of medical necessity for breathing. In the pictures presented it appears that the patient’s mouth is open in both preoperative pictures, which is consistent with significant nasal obstruction. Rhinoplasty can also be performed at the same time. Rhinoplasty procedure will involve reducing of dorsal hump, refining the tip, removing any hump and break to the nose, and... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Surgery of the nasal tip with thick skin

You have brought up a great topic for discussion. Thick skin is an important factor to overcome for successful rhinoplasty. This can't be assesed by photographs. There are advanced techniques an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon may need to use in patients with very thick skin in order to achieve significant improvement in tip contour. You may need to have your nostrils reduced in size as well. Thick skin does not affect the septum nor turbinates which will improve... more

Edmund Fisher, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Adjusting for thick skin in rhinoplasty

Thicker skin is not infrequent in rhinoplasty, and to adjust, often supporting grafts are required so change the shape of the nose. Even with thicker skin the results can be very nice. Most individuals do not even know what the turbinates are much less that they need be reduced. If your surgeon knows his stuff the airway should not be problem either. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Indian skin and rhinoplasty

Thicker skin in many patients of different ethnicities really only effects the visual refinement of the tip. Usually the nose swelling dissipates from the dorsum to the tip. In thick skinned patients it may take longer to see your overall results usually up to a year. In reviewing your photographs you are a great candidate for surgery and would see a tremendous result when done properly. If you have breathing issues then you must address the septum and turbinates at the time of the... more