Could the supra alar creases be reduced? (photos)

Question

My nose takes over my face when I smile, but in profile it is quite small. It's soft and can be squashed. It often looks too big for my face, with the thing I worry about most being the wide spread and nostrils. The creases are deep and get irritated sometimes.

Garrett Griffin, MD · Answer

pb100: The question heading relates to supra-alar creases but your text focuses more on the size of your nose.  I think you could improve both the size of your nose and reduce the alar creases with a rhinoplasty.  To reduce the creases, I would suggest lateral crural strut grafts, which will help give your tip more definition as well. To reduce the width of the lower nose, you would need alar base reduction, which removes a small portion of the ala (nostril) and/or a small wedge of tissue at the nostril sill (between ala and columella).    In terms of the nose being squishy, a columellar strut from your septal cartilage should help support the nose.  Finally, a shield graft can give your tip a little extra refinement and definition.  Best of luck.  You look like you might be hispanic.  Seek out a surgeon experienced in Hispanic and ethnic rhinoplasty...it is different than Caucasion rhinoplasty and if you get a surgeon that resects a bunch of cartilage, your nose will be even more squishy and you will look worse.

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and the photos.  It appears that your nasal dorsum (bridge) is a little lower than ideal and that your lower lateral cartilages (nostril cartilages) are taller and wider than ideal.  A rhinoplasty procedure where cartilage is added to your dorsum to raise it and the cartilage of your lower lateral cartilages is shaped to be less pronounce may be able to improve the aesthetics of your nose.  Narrowing of your nostril width would also likely be helpful.  This would involve an incision at the base of your nostril.  I recommend that you seek consultation with several board certified plastic surgeons in your area and look at their before and after photos of comparable nose shaping procedures as well as their online reviews.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Your wide tip and nasal base can be reduced with rhinoplasty surgery. You describe very soft cartilages; your inverted V deformity with a narrow mid-nose and the deep alar creases can be improved with cartilage grafts.

Could the supra alar creases be reduced? (photos)

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Could the supra alar creases be reduced? (photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.