There’s arguably no plastic surgery that’s a more true combination of surgical technique and aesthetic artistry than a rhinoplasty. There are also few places on the face or body with as small a margin of error. Because there’s no fat or muscle to soften the appearance of irregularities, even millimeters can make a difference in the end result, says Dr. Dara Liotta, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. That’s why it’s so crucial to choose a plastic surgeon with plenty of experience and before and after photos that showcase exceptional results.
In assessing rhinoplasty before and afters, the same standard rules for any type of cosmetic procedure B&As apply (for example, consistent lighting and background). But given that noses do vary so much from individual to individual, what other types of things should you look for? It sounds simple, but first and foremost, you should simply like the majority of the noses you see in a doctor’s portfolio of work. “The final outcome of a rhinoplasty is based on what the patient wants, his or her anatomy, and the surgeon’s aesthetic preferences,” says Dr. Liotta. And while every nose is different, there does tend to be some type of common element when you look at multiple rhinoplasties from the same surgeon, adds Beverly Hills, California, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Edwin Kwon. While you may not be able to pick up on exactly what that is, if you like the majority of the photos you’re seeing, that’s a good indication that you and that surgeon have a similar sense of what is aesthetically pleasing, he says.
But there are also some more specifics to keep an eye out for. Here, six things plastic surgeons say are most important to look for in nose job before and after photos.
1. A variety of noses and fixes
While most plastic surgeons do have their own “style,” you still want to make sure they’ve operated on different types of noses and performed different types of nose jobs. Dr. Kwon suggests looking for photos that feature patients of multiple ethnicities and with varying nose sizes as well as different types of fixes, such as smoothed-out bumps and refined tips. “This means that the surgeon can provide a variety of results and has a variety of different tools in their skill set that he or she can rely on,” says Dr. Yael Halaas, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. This is important because the nose is unpredictable—you never know what’s going to happen until you open it up—and you want to make sure your doctor has many different techniques that they can use to address whatever may come up, she explains.
2. Photos taken at different angles
“It’s technically easier to produce nicer results on a profile photo than it is on one that’s front facing or at a three-quarter view,” says Dr. Liotta. For example, a nose that isn’t straight will be very apparent in front-on photos, while a three-quarter view is the best way to spot any irregularities in an area known as the keystone region, she says. “If the middle area, where you can pinch the bridge of your nose, looks like it has fallen in and the bone looks like it’s sticking out, that’s a red flag. It means that the surgeon didn’t do anything to support this portion of the nose and that this area can end up collapsing and causing breathing problems,” she explains.
3. Time stamps
It’s important for there to be an indication on any type of “after” photo as to exactly how long after surgery it was taken, but this is even more critical when it comes to rhinoplasties, given the significant impact of post-op swelling. “Even a little bit of swelling makes a huge difference,” says Dr. Liotta. “It softens irregularities. What tends to make a nose look like it’s been operated on are harsh angles and shadows where they shouldn’t be, and swelling can mask that. What might look like a phenomenal result three months after surgery can look mediocre after a year,” she explains. Things are pretty final one year out, making this the ideal timing. However, seeing after photos taken at various intervals helps people get a sense of the healing process as well as understand what is a realistic long-term result, she says.
4. An overly narrow tip or bridge
Very often, patients want a more defined tip and think that smaller is better—but be wary of photos where the tip is so small that it appears unnatural, says Dr. Halaas. Again, this is where the angle at which the photo is taken matters. The tip may look nice from the side, but you want to see it front-on to make sure there is still some triangularity at the base, she says. Too much shadowing on the sides of the tip is also an indication that it may ultimately pinch or collapse inward, she says.
Similarly, a very narrow bridge can be problematic. While breathing ability is complicated and multifactorial (involving other parts of the nose, such as the septum), an overly narrow bridge is a red flag for potential breathing problems down the line, says Dr. Kwon. While there’s no exact way of quantifying exactly how narrow is too narrow, if your eye picks up on the fact that the nose looks too skinny, it probably is, he says.
5. A nose that’s proportionate to the rest of the face
“People only really notice your nose when it looks unusual. For example, if there’s a big hump or it’s super wide and doesn’t fit your face,” says Dr. Kwon. It’s those reasons that may motivate some people to seek out a rhinoplasty, but if you’re immediately noticing the nose in an after photo, that’s also not great. “The goal of a good rhinoplasty is that no one should know you had anything done to your nose, and how it fits the rest of the face is a huge part of that,” Dr. Kwon points out. While it should complement your face size, face shape, and other facial features, the balance between the nose and chin is particularly important when it comes to a good aesthetic outcome, Dr. Halass adds.
6. A tip that’s not too upturned
“An upturned tip can work for some faces, but generally, it doesn’t make for a very natural look,” says Dr. Kwon. The ideal angle between the upper lip and the columella—the base of the tip, the part that separates the nostrils—is typically said to be 90 degrees for men and between 95 and 105 degrees for women, he explains. However, even 105 tends to be too much and not an especially realistic angle, he adds. This is something to look for in profile photos, as it’s easiest to see exactly how rotated it is from a side view.
