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Can Filing Fix a Hump on Nose Bridge?

asked 2 years ago by ricardo88 in London
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 2,567 times
Tags: age 18-24, bridge, nose, male, dorsal hump, hump, tip

Hi, I'm 21 years old, male and considering Rhinoplasty. I am unhappy with the appearance of my nose, but only really when I smile (a big toothy grin particularly). I would look to correct a small hump (Is this a "dorsal hump"?) on the bridge of my nose. It's not bad and my nose isn't overly wide, so could this be done by just filing or rasping it down?

I've read a lot about this on the Internet but I never know what to believe! My other concern is that my nose seems to widen when I smile ("Pic.4" shows the areas on the side I don't like). Why is this? Would I need work on the tip as well to stop this? ne of my main issues, however, is recovery time because as a singer, management doesn't want a huge recovery time! Thanks, from a confused guy!

12 answers to Can Filing Fix a Hump on Nose Bridge?

Filing Nasal Hump

A surgeon can file a nasal hump, but I don't think that is appropriate as an isolated procedure for you. You have a broad hump; filing it will make your bridge even wider. This can be corrected by moving the nasal bones closer together. Don't try to plan the operation by yourself. Talk to a physician with experience.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Sometimes filing is not enough to fix a hump

According to the pictures presented, most of the bump on the nose is cartilage, which can be shaved down. It is not bone. The tip droop when you smile is related to the ligament that holds the tip ligament that is attached to the smile muscle. This is typically released at the time of the surgery so that the nose stays straight on animation and smiling. Once the hump is removed, both cartilage and bone, the sidewalls most likely will need to be narrowed.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Complete rhinoplasty for overall improvement

Ricardo, your nose is probably too wide at the level of the boney pyramid for simple rasping to work well. You would be much better served to consider conservative boney and cartilaginous hump reduction and osteotomies (controlled chisel cuts) to effect narrowing along with modest tip refinement and perhaps some rotation. The width of the base can be narrowed if the base is too wide and this may reduce the widening when you smile a bit. See an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and have a... more

Harrison C. Putman III, MD
Peoria Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.specialface.com

Rhinoplasty and Dorsal Hump Reduction

It is hard to assess how big your dorsal hump is but I would not overly concern yourself on how the hump is taken care of. What you should care about is that it is done right and proper by the best plastic surgeon that you can find for the job. Whether it is filed down or rasped or an osteotome is used makes no difference on your outcome, so dont concern yourself with this as they are simply different techniques to reach the same outcome. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Filing or rasping a nasal hump or bump

In the case of a minor reduction (less than 3mm or 1/8 inch) rasping of the nasal dorsum can reduce the hump or minor bumps. From the limited view of your nose it appears that you also have a wide hump which filing/rasping will not help.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty

A small dorsal hump can be treated by just shaving. However, shaving down a bony ump may cause a flattened appearance which will then need to be infractured to close the "open" roof.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and the Nasal Hump

Hi Ricardo, No wonder you are a "confused" guy, take those eye patches off so that you can see your nose. A dorsal hump is usually viewed from the side or profile, it is the bump on the mid to upper part of the nose. You appear to have lateral wings likely comprised of cartilage and bone. The cartilage can be shaved down, the bone can be rasped or "filed down". The $64,000 question is once "the offending party" as one of my Brit patients termed it is removed... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Filing may fix a nose bridge hump

Hi Ricardo88, Can filing fix a hump on nose bridge? - Sometimes. Just so you would know - a bone can be filed (or actually rasped). Cartilage cannot - it needs to be shaved with a scalpel. The dorsal hump is USUALLY made up of both bone and cartilage. Depending on the surgeon, we often lower the bony hump with a rasp or burr and then shave the cartilage nous dorsum with a blunt tip scalpel. (Other surgeons cut through the cartilage nous dorsum and reduce the bony hum with a scalpel). It... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Radiesse can be used to fill around the nasal hump

Radiesse can be used to fill around the nasal hump. I have used fillers to camoflauge nasal humps. The results are immediate and last about one year.

Christine Hamori, MD
Quincy Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty for small hump on the bridge

Small humps can simply be shaved down without breaking the nose. However, more extensive "dorsal humps" require trimming of the cartilage and bone leaving a "boxy" appearance to the nose. Therefore, breaking of the bones or osteotomies may be required to alleviate this look. All in all, however, a rhinoplasty is a well tolerated procedure even if the bones need to be broken. Good luck!

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

"Filing" as an isolated procedure is usually not a great idea!

When you Rasp a "hump" then the nose will look even wider in most circumstances. In my opinion you are an excellent candidate for a Rhinoplasty which would include slight narrowing of the tip. reducing the "dorsal hump", elevating the nasal tip, and narrowing the bony nasal pyramid. You will be unhappy with anything short of that approach in my opinion.

S. Randolph Waldman, MD
Lexington Facial Plastic Surgeon

Filing Can Reduce Nasal Hump

If you have a small dorsal hump, it can be removed with filing. However, the nose can end up looking broad in some cases. Then you have to break the bones and bring them closer to narrow it. The nose looks broader on smiling for most people as the nostrils flare. Your nasal width does not appear to be that wide. Your dorsal hump can be assessed in a profile view and you have a frontal photo only. Regards