Am I a good candidate for rhinoplasty or tip refinement surgery?

Rhinoplasty requires exceptional skill on behalf of the surgeon and great communication with the patient about realistic goals and expectations. Common cosmetic concerns include a dorsal hump, wide nose, sunken nose, irregularities, and asymmetries. Functional concerns include difficulty breathing through the nose, which can and should be addressed at the same time as your rhinoplasty.

In your situation, tip refinement is part of a rhinoplasty and can help accomplish your goals.

Make sure to seek out the care of a board certified surgeon with extensive experience in rhinoplasty. Find someone you connect with, who will listen to your concerns and provide you with a framework for what is possible.

Gary Linkov, MD
Rhinoplasty Specialist
Manhattan

My suggestion would be to see several experts in the art of rhinoplasty to get their opinions regarding the extent of the surgery necessary to achieve your goals. In all but the most obvious case of a nasal tip issue, the surgeon should have the option of addressing all of the nasal elements to establish proper proportions. The photos you sent are not very good because your head is at various angles and distances and you are smiling in some. I am not exactly sure what was done in the morphed photo, but it appears that your nostrils may have been brought in. Admittedly, most of the work would probably involve narrowing the tip, raising the columella and maybe the tip as well and, perhaps, narrowing the nasal base. You should seek several consultations and work with a surgeon with whom you feel confident. Hopefully, he will know what you want to achieve and show prior work that gives evidence that he can "walk his talk".

Based on your photo you appear anatomically to be a good candidate for an artistically performed rhinoplasty.

Keep in mind that following advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you whether you are an appropriate candidate for surgery and exactly what to do without examining you, physically feeling your tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best interest. Natural appearing results need to be individualized and what is appropriate for one patient is not necessarily the best for someone else. I would suggest that you find a surgeon certified by the American Board of American Plastic Surgery and one who is ideally a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, M.D., FACS

La Jolla, California