Why Did the Shape of my Mouth Change After Rhinoplasty?

I had septorhinoplasty 5 years ago.I had a large projecting nose with a dorsal hump.The doctor acknowledges but cannot explain why after the surgery my mouth position changed.It seems that it is in a lower position.When I open my mouth only my lower teeth show.Is it possible that the nose was reduced so much it cannot support the nasal skin and muscles in this region? Is it possible that certian ligament connections of the nose were cut and destroyed the support sytem?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by islgrl

Doctor Answers (4)
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Lip changed after Rhinoplasty

I have performed Rhinoplasty for over 20 years and IMHO, if you are able to move your mouth as before the Rhinoplasty, no harm was done to the motor nerves or muscles. The position change and/or length differences, of your upper lip, are most likely due to the changes in tip projection...but as always, you should discuss this further with your Rhinoplasty surgeon.

Mouth position and rhinoplasty

Sometimes with a large dorsum and tension tip, the lip is pulled up a bit showing more teeth. Possibly with the corrective surgery, the tension on the tip was reduced and the lip relaxed. Often this is a good thing bringing the face into better balance. Photos would be helpful.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty changed mouth

A pre and post photo will be very helpful. The likely cause is the deprojection. If as you say your nose was large and projecting, you would have grown up with the appearance of a relatively shortened upper lip as the forward thrust of the projecting tip pulls the upper lip forward and makes it seem shorter on front view. If there was a substantial deprojection of the tip as part of the rhinoplasty, then it can have the effect of relatively lengthening the upper lip as... more