Can alarplasty make my nostrils look less long from the side? (Photos)

Question

My nostrils are "long" but not wide. I'm not interested in rhinoplasty or refining the nose tip. I am potentially interested in alarplasty as a stand-alone procedure. I attached photos with my current nose (top) and desired result (bottom). Is this something alarplasty could address? My nostrils are not very wide so I'm not trying to change how they look from the front. I would like them to look less long from the side and that's it. Is this achievable?

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

To reduce nostril length, you need to reduce tip projection.  This will require a formal rhinoplasty so the tip to dorsum projection is maintained.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

If you have a full rhinoplasty your nostrils may flare and benefit from alarplasty. There are many variations of alarplasty. Also, some surgeons do them frequently while others almost never do them. Go on several consults and you’ll get different recommendations

Robert Ciardullo, MD · Answer

Can alar plasty change the length of long nostrils? when a person has a long over projecting tip with long nostrils, it is not the long nostrils making the tip long it is the long over projecting tip making the nostrils long. Simply doing an alar plasty will not reduce the projection of the tip. the tip projection depends on a number of factors including the length and the strength of the Cartilage within the columella which is the structure between the two nostrils. It serves like the pole of a tent holding the tip of the tent up. the nostrils are like the two sides of the tent. shortening them will not reduce The height of the tent. you would have to shorten the pole holding the tent up. In this case it is the Columella as well as the Cartilage in the tip and side wings of what is called the lower lateral Cartilage. So if you wish to reduce the projection of the tip and the length of the nostrils you would need to do a nasal tip plasty as well as an alar base resection.

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Good Morning! Those are great questions. In my experience, alarplasty is best for the changes appreciated on the front and base view and less so on the sides. The reason we perform the procedure is to obtain symmetry and reduce the width +/- flare of the nostrils. You can see changes on the side, but I don't cite this as a primary outcome. You have to be careful performing an alarplasty if your nostrils are already narrow as it may leave your nose with too pinched of an appearance. Worse off, it could affect your breathing which can be very challenging to reverse. Hope that helps!

Can alarplasty make my nostrils look less long from the side? (Photos)

Answers (4)

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