What is going on with one side of my nose? (Photo)

Question

My right nose is not as symmetrical as the left. What can I do?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

From your photo, it appears that one side of your nose has a slightly different contour than the other. The first thing I'd like to reassure you about is that some degree of nasal asymmetry is completely normal. In fact, very few people have perfectly symmetrical noses, and these small differences often become more noticeable when viewed close-up or in certain lighting.

There are several possible reasons why one side may look different:

Natural cartilage asymmetry: The cartilage that forms the tip and nostrils is rarely identical on both sides.
Differences in the nasal bones or septum: A subtle deviation can make one side appear fuller or flatter.
Soft tissue thickness: One side may have slightly more or less soft tissue covering the underlying cartilage.
Previous injury: Even a minor injury years ago can change the shape of one side of the nose.

The best treatment depends on what is causing the asymmetry.

If the difference is due to a small contour irregularity, a non-surgical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid filler can sometimes camouflage the asymmetry by smoothing transitions and improving overall balance. It's important to remember that filler works by adding volume, so it cannot make a larger area smaller, but it can create the illusion of greater symmetry.

If the asymmetry is caused by the underlying cartilage or bone, and it is significant enough to bother you, then surgical rhinoplasty is the only option that can directly reshape those structures.

Before considering any treatment, I would carefully examine your nose from multiple angles and assess it both at rest and while smiling. Sometimes what appears to be a problem in one photograph looks much less noticeable in motion or from other viewpoints.

One thing I always encourage patients to keep in mind is that the human face is naturally asymmetric. Our eyes tend to focus on details that other people rarely notice. The goal of treatment, if pursued, should be to improve facial harmony—not to achieve perfect symmetry, which doesn't exist in nature.

From what I can appreciate, your asymmetry appears relatively subtle. If it truly bothers you, there are options available, but the right one depends on whether the difference is coming from soft tissue, cartilage, or bone. A careful evaluation would help determine which approach would provide the most natural-looking improvement.

Donald Groves, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question! It sounds like your primary concern is the shape and asymmetry of your nasal tip and nostrils—one of the most common reasons people seek out both primary and revision rhinoplasty. Your specific issues can only be properly addressed through rhinoplasty—fillers simply don’t have the structural strength to achieve the necessary changes.

Many surgeons overlook key techniques that can soften the appearance of underlying structures in the nose, especially in patients with thin skin, significantly improving tip symmetry and refinement. These specialized maneuvers require a high level of expertise and experience, which most surgeons simply do not have. Given your history, an open septorhinoplasty would be the best approach to precisely reshape your nasal tip, refine the bridge, and restore overall balance.

In addition to reshaping your nose aesthetically, your septal cartilage (or an alternative graft material) would be used to create structural grafts, reinforcing key areas like the columella (the strip of tissue between your nostrils). This is crucial to maintaining long-term symmetry and preventing future distortions.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most technically demanding procedures in all of plastic surgery—millimeters make all the difference. If a surgeon is only performing one or two rhinoplasties per month, they simply do not have the level of experience necessary to achieve the best possible result. Your nose defines your entire face—this is NOT a surgery to leave in the hands of just anyone.

I have had extensive training in complex rhinoplasty, working under one of the highest-volume rhinoplasty surgeons in the world (who performs 1,000+ nose surgeries per year). If you’re serious about getting the best possible result, I’d be happy to see you for a consultation (Virtual or In-Person) where we can discuss your goals, perform a detailed examination, and create a customized plan for your ideal nose.

I look forward to helping you achieve the refined, balanced nose you deserve!

Dr. Donald Groves
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Based on your photos, you appear to have very thin nasal skin and an indentation involving your right tip cartilage. Sometimes nasal tip asymmetries like this may be due to a deviated nasal septum. If you are breathing fine and would want to add volume to your right nasal tip indentation, depending on your examination, microdroplets Silikon 1000 injections may be considered. I hope this helps and thank you for your question. Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

What is going on with one side of my nose? (Photo)

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