Can I get surgery to make the tip of my nose smaller and less fat, maybe shaped better? (Photo)

Absolutely your nasal tip can be made thinner. This is a very common request. By moving your nasal cartilages together, your nasal tip can become thinner. If you do not need / want other changes the recovery period can be very short. You can look at case # 2889 in the photo gallery of the reference below to see an example of what can be done. Sincerely,Dr. K

Click on the "Web reference" link, just below my response, or go here:

FacialSurgery.com/RealSelf/RealSelf_kaylarose78.html

I made a computer morph of your nose, and an animation of the morph, to show the changes that are possible for your nose in truly expert hands.Mostly, I narrowed the tip cartilages. You can perhaps see that, by narrowing those cartilages, the tip comes up a little bit, too. In the short video just above, the woman's nose is much shorter when her tip cartilages are narrowed. Also, the dark groove between the tip and the rest of the bridge of the nose tends to go away when the tip cartilages are narrowed, because there's not such an abrupt stepoff between the cartilages and the bridge.I'd be interested in what you think of the morph.

You should understand that the changes I demonstrated in the morph require advanced techniques, techniques that most plastic surgeons cannot handle.  Be sure to read the section in the "Web reference" link on how to stay out of trouble while searching for a rhinoplasty surgeon.



Your nose is also a good example of why computer imaging is mandatory in rhinoplasty. You need to know exactly what the surgeon is planning to accomplish -- what features he thinks he can change, and by how much he thinks he can change them. When you see his goals, you'll know whether he has an eye for a beautiful nose, and whether he shares your opinion of what constitutes a beautiful nose. You'll also know whether the changes he proposes are enough to be meaningful to you, and whether he understands your wishes enough to address all of your priorities. But remember, you're not hiring him for his skills with the computer. The doctor must then show you his before and after photos to prove that he can actually accomplish what he draws on the computer.

With cartilages as wide as yours, probably the three-quarter views show their width best, and those views would show the most improvement from a rhinoplasty. At the *very* bottom of the Web reference page is a link to instructions on taking photos that are most useful for online consultations like this, in case you'd like a more complete evaluation.

this can be done if the rest of your nose remains balanced with a smaller tip.  See you're very experienced surgeon who can explain your options and one who does natural looking noses based on his results. 

The  Bulbous nasal tip can be reduced and refined with a conservative cartilage removal and suture techniques applied to the lower lateral cartilages of the nasal tip.  Thick skin in the tip of the nose will be an impediment to seeing refinement in that area. Digital computer imaging of your nose upon your facial features would be helpful to understand what can and cannot be accomplished with your nose upon your facial features. Most patients must undergo a full rhinoplasty, not just the tip.  This ensures that all the components of the nose are balanced with themselves, and the entire new nose is balanced with the patient's facial features. For more information, diagrams of the techniques, and  many before and after bulbous tip reduction rhinoplasty procedures, please see the link and video below

Thank you for your photo. Rhinoplasty can help target your tip to reduce your nostrils and refine your tip. Sometimes, if you change the nostrils and tip, you may want to also alter the bridge to make sure your nose proportions are still in harmony and appear natural and appropriate for your face. Nasal packing is not always used and is more commonly used after septal or more extensive surgeries are done. It is important to have an in-office examination to determine the best treatment plan to achieve your goals. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD Plastic Surgery

Improving the nostril width and refining a flaring bulbous tip are frequent requests of patients wanting nasal refinement. It is possible to improve the cosmetic appearance of the tip alone without altering the rest of the nose in some patients. Whether the optimal option in your particular situation would be a tip rhinoplasty alone or a full rhinoplasty would best be determined at a consultation. Either procedure can be performed with a closed or open approach. 


Following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do based on limited 2 dimensional photos without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon with extensive nasal surgery experience who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or a facial plastic surgeon (ENT) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. Whether packing is used depends on the procedure and the individual approach and experience of the surgeon.



Robert Singer, MD FACS 


La Jolla, California

Every rhinoplasty operation is individualized to meet the needs of that patient. In over 30 years I've never done 2 procedures exactly the same. The surgery can be done to just make your tip smaller, less fat, and more defined. Consult with a rhinoplasty specialist; you want a nose that is balanced where all parts of the nose are proportional.