How to Tell if You Have Thick Nasal Skin?

asked 2 years ago by SSAA in UK
Latest answer by Kris Conrad, MD
Question viewed 885 times
Tags: limit, thick skin

Scanning through the questions regarding rhinoplasty, the term 'thick nasal skin' has been abundant; I would like to know more about this and if there is a way to check whether I myself have thick nasal skin? Also, how limited do rhinoplasty options become in the case of a patient with thick skin? Thank you in advance.

11 answers to How to Tell if You Have Thick Nasal Skin?

Determining Thickness of Nasal Skin

If you cannot see the clear outline of your nasal cartilages, your skin is relatively thick. Because the judgement of thickness is relative, have a rhinoplasty surgeon help you evaluate your skin and describe its impact on rhinoplasty surgery. Thicker skin will limit the refinement definition that can be achieved.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Rhinoplasty with thick skin

Another great, insightful question. When assessing patients for rhinoplasty, one of the things we are concerned about is thickness of the skin. Think of it this way. You can take a camping tent apart and make the poles longer, shorter, or just different. Then when you drape the tent over the poles how much will you see both of the underlying poles and the overall change. Very thick tents will mask finer details ( a sculpted delicate tip), while a very thin tent material (thin skin)... more

Clayton L. Moliver, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

How to Tell if You Have Thick Nasal Skin?

Not only the skin, but also the tissue intimately related to the undersurface of the nasal skin play a significant role in the design of the operation, as well as the extend to which the desired result can be obtained. Definetely an improvement regardless of the thickness of the skin can be achieved. There is no way for you to measure your nasal skin thickness. You should obtain an opinion from an experienced specialist Rhinoplasty surgeon.

Kris Conrad, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thick Nasal Skin

The concern and judgment of thick nasal skin with regard to the benefits and drawbacks involved in a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the nose should be left to the assessment, judgment and skill of a good, experienced rhinoplasty surgeon. You would derive no benefit by making your own decision as to the thickness of your skin and how it relates to the success of rhinoplasty. There are pros and cons of having thick nasal skin. It may be beneficial in... more

Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD
Freehold Facial Plastic Surgeon

Determining whether you have thick nasal skin

You are able to find out how thick your skin is by pinching the skin at the top, the mid portion, and the bottom of the nose and note the thickness between your fingers in all three locations. The skin thickness varies throughout the entire nose. It is also different at the alar nostrils. Rhinoplasty can be performed on individuals with thick skin, however there are some limitations.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Thick nasal skin

I would really need to perform an examination on an individual in person to determine whether or not they have thick nasal skin. Thick nasal skin is usually apparent by the size of the tip, and by the amount of skin around the nostrils when viewed from underneath. When patients have thick skin, they may not achieve the definition they are looking for with rhinoplasty. On the other hand, thick nasal skin may also hide any imperfections. Please feel free to send any photos to my office and I... more

Paul S. Nassif, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

How to tell if you have thick nasal skin.

Pinch the skin only of the nasal tip. If it easily moves, it is probably thin. Thick skin is not very easily slid over the underlying nasal cartilage.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thick Nasal Skin

This is something your plastic surgeon can tell you. It just limits the results that can be achieved as a lot needs to be done to have a smaller improvement. Have a plastic surgeon evaluate you and let them know what you would like to achieve and see if is reasonable.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Thick nasal skin

Thick nasal skin is fairly obvious. It is often very oily of vertain ethnicities and it is difficult to see the outline of the underlying bony and cartilaginous structures.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Thick nasal skin

Thick skin is typically thick due to the oil glands (sebaceous glands that are present). However, this term is often used to describe patients with thicker adipose tissue in the nasal tip as well. Generally the tip of the nose has shapes and facets similar to a diamond. When the tip of the nose lacks these facets and has a blunted poorly defined tip and the nasal cartilages and bones are not visible we label the skin as being thick.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Thick Nasal Skin and Rhinoplasty

Hi SSAA, Thick nasal skin is usually found in males with oily skin, large pores, and amorphorous nasal tips. Thick oily skin does limit the degree of refinement of the nose during rhinoplasty. Cartilaginous grafts are often necessary to give shape to the thick skinned nose. To find out if your nasal skin is thick, consult with a rhinoplasty surgeon. Good luck and be well. Dr. P