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Can Rhinoplasty Narrow a Wide Nose and Still Look Natural?

asked 3 years ago by nosechanger in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Latest answer by Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Question viewed 30,702 times
Tags: nose, nostrils, natural, smaller

my nostrils are very small but my ala is really wide esspecially when i laugh. Is there a way the doctor can bring in my ala or prevent it from spreading when i laugh! without again affecting my nostrils? or are there ways to bring it in and make my nostrills bigger?

how can a wide nose be brought in without it appearing unnatural?

17 answers to Can Rhinoplasty Narrow a Wide Nose and Still Look Natural?

Refining & Narrowing Your Nose...

Great question! Yes - In general, rhinoplasty surgery can narrow a wide nose and still look natural. A few things you may want to consider... First, which part of the nose would you like to narrow, the upper portion (called the dorsum or bridge)? If so, this procedure is performed under anesthesia and requires making small breaks to the bone. The dorsum can be narrowed with or without tip refinement. Often, some tip refinement is done providing a smooth transition from the tip to the... more

David Mabrie, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

yourfaceinourhands.com

Wide Noses

You asked a few different questions so here are answers: -- can you reduce the size of my alar base without reducing the size of my nostrils-- yes, alar base reduction can be performed a variety of techniques not all of which will reduce the size of your nostril. --can you prevent my nostrils from widening with smiling-- the nostrils are typically widened with smiling. The facial muscles responsible for this are important for several functions so you would not want to sever them. you can... more

Anil R. Shah, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and Natural Results

Hi nosechanger, The answers to your questions are yes. There are techniques that can make your lateral nasal alae smaller so that when you smile they do not spread so much. Your lateral nostril may be a little smaller, but still retain a natural appearance. A wide nose can be "brought in" without it appearing unnatural. One must maintain the nasal dorsal line which runs from the medial edge of the eye brow, down to the defining point of the nasal tip. It is more difficult to... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nostril Flaring

There are two operations that might be just right for you. Nostril flaring is related to the action of the dilator nasalis muscles. These muscles are used as accessory muscles of respiration during times of respiratory distress; they are partially responsible for 'nasal flaring'. Dilator nasalis arises from the facial bones at a slightly superior point and runs medially and slightly inferiorly to insert into the ipsilateral alar cartilages of the nose. It acts to open the aperture of the... more

Daniel Reichner, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Narrowing the nostrils can make a wide nose appear less wide

Narrowing the nostrils can make a wide nose appear less wide. The procedure to narrow the nostrils is called alar base reduction. Carefully done this scar can be minimized under the shadows of the nose or in the sill underneath the nostrils. With proper surgical technique, the size and shape of the ala can remain the same or be altered if one wishes to make them smaller. A wide nose itself requires narrowing of the tip as well as the middle of the nose and these procedures can all be done... more

Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

The Natural Looking Nose

A natural looking nose is a nose that is aesthetically pleasing and matches the face to the nose and looks non-operated. That is a significant challenge in a modern rhinoplasty. A successful rhinoplasty does not look like it has been operated on. It looks natural and has good shape and contour. It has no dorsal irregularities and does not have a washed out dorsum, a polybeak deformity, or notching of the nasal tip. That is a very high standard that can be attained only after careful... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Wide noses and thin noses

Patients can certainly achieve attractive, non operative looking noses following rhinoplasty to narrow their noses. The width often occurs in three areas: the back of the nose or dorsum, the tip complex, or nostril base area. Each patient has different expectations as well as different anatomy. A surgical plan for one patient is not the same for every patient, nor is the same surgical maneuvers performed, nor is the same technique for execution performed.... more

Jonathan Berman, MD
Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drberman.com

Treating the Wide Nose with Rhinoplasty

Narrowing the tip and upper nose are routine ways of helping improve nasal shape during rhinoplasty surgery. Treating the wide ala is possible but has some limitations. In your question you state that your nostrils are actually small- so it does not sound like you need a traditional wedge excision of the base of the alae. Visit with an experienced plastic surgeon, as the best way to treat your nose will depend on your physical exam. Slight widening with... more

Michael Suzman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.westmedgroup.com

Narrowing a wide nose is one of the most common reasons for seeking rhinoplasty surgery

Narrowing a wide nose is one of the most common reasons for seeking rhinoplasty surgery. There are certainly ways to make the nostrils less mobile during animation (i.e. laughter) and to change the size and shape of the nostrils. Similarly, changing the width of the nasal dorsum is a very common and straightforward goal in rhinoplasty surgery that is easily accomplished. One way to make the base of the nose seem less wide is to increase the height of the tip of the nose. The... more

Michael R. Macdonald, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drmmacdonald.com

Nostril(alar) repositioning

The best way to answer this complicated question is probably. The nostril is a very complex structural curve affected greatly by facial animation. Not only are everyones nostrils different but their muscles of facial animation are different (we all have individual shaped smiles ). Many things can be done to the nostrils to thin them, reshape them, and reposition them.....however this is very sophisticated rhinoplasty type work, and very individualized. Get a consult from a "rh more

Richard Galitz, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

Narrowing a Nose without Impairing Breathing

Alar base reduction is a surgery that is designed to do just that. This is keeping in mind that the proportions of the nose maintain their proper relationship. The width of the nose can be reduced without impacting the nostril size by the way in which the excision of tissue is planned. However, the way in which your facial muscles (during smiling) impact the shape of your nose cannot be changed - nor should you want to alter this natural phenomenon. If the... more

Vincent P. Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Reducing nostril flare with smiling

If you hold the base of your nose, where it meets the upper lip and then try to smile you will notice that the nostrils will not flare as much. A similar result can be achieved with an operation directed at this same area, as well as a carefully placed suture under the skin to maintain the nostril position.

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty to Reduce Alar Flaring and Nasal Base Width

Hi Nosechanger, Yes you can improve the width of your nose. From your description , You may need to have two different procedures. You may need to have the nasal dilator muscles partially resected while reducing the Alar flaring. Both the above can be done simultaneously. I recommend a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty procedures. Hope this was helpful. Dr. Sajjadian

Ali Sajjadian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.DrSajjadian.com

Botox for dynamic alar flaring

From your statement the problem appears to be due to stong dialator and levator muscles of nose. If you are happy with the appearance of the nostrils when you are not lauging Botox injection to the muscle of the nose to deactivate them may be an option.

Zain Kadri, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Wide nostrils

Yes, with proper technique, widened alae can be narrowed and still look very natural. Sometimes, other areas of your nose will need slight correction at the same time, to provide balance. The key is to find a rhinoplasty surgeon who has experience and is board certified.

Dustin L. Reid, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty can narrow a wide nose naturally with an ALar Base Reduction

The part of the nose you describe is the fleshy section of the lower third which is the nostril skin. No cartilage exists here. The way to reduce its width is by removing a few millimeters of skin with a procedure called an alar base reduction with an incision made where the nostril meets the cheek. When executed well it looks natural and the scars are not apparent. Ask your surgeon how many of these he or she performs a year as this can be a tricky technique.

Andrew Jacono, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Narrowing A Wide Nose

Nostril reduction surgery (called Alarplasty / Alar Base Reduction) is a procedure that can narrow the width of the nostril base, decrease the amount of nostril flaring, and/or decrease the size of the nostrils. It is important to realize that the smile muscles can pull the base of the nose up and outward even if an alar base reduction is performed and the flaring may not totally be corrected. To get a better understanding of what your nose would look like after surgery, your prospective... more