I feel my nostrils are too visible. What could be done to correct them and give my face a more balanced look? (Photos)

Alar plasty would be a good option to narrow the nostrils for you.  However reducing the distance between the lip and the nose by doing a lip lift can distort your smile and is not a good option.RegardsDr. J

Hello and thank you for your question.  Although an exam in person is ideal, from your photographs alone it appears that you can benefit from a tip rhinoplasty where the nasal tip cartilage is modified for a more refined, feminine, and less bulbous look.  The modification of your nasal cartilage can be done with trimming, stitching or grafting.  In terms of your nostrils specifically, alar contour grafts can help make them less visible. If your septum is deviated and you have breathing difficulty, a septoplasty may benefit you as well.  The next step for you is to find the right aesthetic plastic surgeon.  In your rhinoplasty consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your aesthetic goals and concerns specifically, and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course.  Also, be sure to see plenty of before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar nose appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome.

After seeking out a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon.  It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on rhinoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS

Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Hello and thank you for the question and sharing your photos. You will likely benefit from a rhinoplasty procedure focusing on refining of your nasal tip and alar base reduction. My best advice is that you discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in performing rhinoplasty. I would ask to see before and after pictures of their real patients. It's important that you trust your surgeon's skills and ability to achieve the results you are looking for. In particular, pay attention to your surgeon's experience with rhinoplasty. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

You would benefit from a lip lift that shortens the distance from your upper red lip to the base of the nose. The scar is hidden around the curves of the ala, nostril and base of the tissue between the nostrils, the columella. This give a pleasing appearance with incisor show and everted red lip. 

Hello. These photos are not enough to evaluate the whole structure of your nose. A physical examination is mandatory to answer your questions. A plastic surgeon can evaluate your nose in a holistic fashion. Some visibility is required in an aesthetically shaped nose from side aspect but if it is too much it may need a refinement. Need for a lip lift operation should be evaluated with physical examination as well or more photos/videos are required to make a surgical planning. 

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photograph, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty which can be performed by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. You may also benefit from alar contour grafts to help prevent alar retraction.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer animation system.  You should be able to view numerous pictures of actual patients with noses similar to yours performed by your surgeon.  If you cannot find enough real before and after pictures, then consider continuing your search for a surgeon.Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon
 

In order to evaluate accurately- in person exam is essential, as well as review of photos -all standard views. Generally speaking, Rhinoplasty, in the right hands- performed through a closed technique- will improve the nose. I suggest that you consult with an experienced Board Certified PS with extensive Rhinoplasty experience 

Hello. Thank you for your question
Tip rhinoplasty procedure will correct your appereance of nostrils. 

In order to give you the best guidance, I strongly recommend that you schedule a consultation with a Board-eligible or Board-certified plastic surgeon. A proper analysis of the nose and its relationship with your other facial features will be done. The overall shape of your face, the distances between each feature and the spacing between your eyes will need to be taken into account to give you the best advice. Also, the surgeon will look at your nose and face from all possible angles. Each angle is necessary as small changes to one part of the nose has an effect on all parts of the nose.

To narrow wide nostrils requires an alar-plasty procedure which accomplishes removing a small wedge of skin at the base of the nostrils to narrow the base of the nose.  The slight hanging columella  Can be addressed by removing excess skin and cartilage from that area