Bulbous tip and flared nostrils. Will I be able to achieve a smaller nose?

Question

I have a bulbous tip and flared nostrils that widen more after I smile. I hear that bulbous noses are harder to operate on and I'm wondering if it's even worth moving forward with a procedure if achieving a more petite nose is not possible.

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question.
As far as I can understand from your question If you can send your photos at 95 degree angles and in good light, it will be possible to make an accurate assessment.
It would be better face to face consultation
Best Regards!

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Please consider re-asking your question with photographs. We commonly use maneuvers to narrow people's nasal tip appearances and their flaring nostrils during rhinoplasty surgery. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Edward Daniele, MD · Answer

A bulbous tip describes the shape of the nasal tip. There are many different factors that affect the narrowing of the tip with one of the most important aspects being skin thickness. The bulbosity described refers to the cartilage that is giving the shape to the nasal tip. I would not say that bulbous tips are necessarily "harder", but it is just describing the shape of the nasal tip. 
Skin thickness and cartilage strength both play a role during rhinoplasty surgery in order to give the tip more definition. Some patients need cartilage tip grafts in order to push against a thick skin envelope to give shape. As long as your expectations are realistic in terms of how much narrower you wish the tip to be, improvement can absolutely be made with a rhinoplasty. You should talk to your plastic surgeon regarding these other factors in order to set a realistic expectation of the postoperative appearance of the nose. Hope this helps!

Caner Kacmaz, MD · Answer

An experienced plastic surgeon can correct a bulbous tip by removing the cartilage. We remove excess cartilage and use the remaining cartilage to reshape the tip, reducing the size and rounded appearance of a bulbous tip. 
Its not a difficult surgery. Therefore, most patients are very satisfied with their results

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

it's hard to know for sure without having an exam. bulbous noses ARE harder to treat in the sense if you have thicker skin because it will require a little more skill and also more counseling to make sure you have realistic results in mind, but it is certainly possible to address both of those.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photograph, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. Fascial grafts may also be used to help improve tip refinement. With good surgical technique, you could have an outstanding result. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You can have a smaller nose with a rhinoplasty.  The fact that you have a bulbous tip is not a contra-indication to surgery.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Bulbous tip and flared nostrils. Will I be able to achieve a smaller nose?

Answers (7)

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