Does tip rhinoplasty or compressed diced cartilage injection to the tip can fix my nose? (Photos)

Question

I had septoplasty with aesthetic 4 years ago and cartilage was removed from the tip and the bridge. My nose tip became uneven since then. Can you recommend me about the best technique that is available to fix this? I'm afraid to go under the knife again. Does tip rhinoplasty alone would be less invasive and enough? Does compressed diced cartilage injection through small incision from inside might fix this? Photo is attached.

Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS · Answer

I would recommend as first choice for simplicity a small amount of fat grafting.  Fat transfer unlike fillers is long lasting (perhaps even permanent and I have used it for many years with a great deal of success.  There have been reports of success with injection of diced cartilage but that requires a donor site.  Cadaveric cartilage is available but it is not alive and it’s long term effects are not known.

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear guy032 in Beverly Hills:
          There seems to be a bit of a saucer-like depression in the tip of your nose.  I can’t tell you whether diced cartilage could be injected from the inside, but what I can tell you is that it is amenable for improvement either by using diced cartilage during a relatively minor revision rhinoplasty or you may want to look at the issue of temporary or permanent fillers.  The latter offers simplicity, economy, and little down time as opposed to any surgical procedure, of course.  
  
     One subject that should be raised is whether you are a candidate or not for the non-surgical or filler alternative. There are permanent and temporary fillers now available. For some patients, whether as a substitute for their rhinoplasty or as a practical and economic substitute when a revision rhinoplasty is contemplated, fillers can make great sense. So, ask if fillers might do the job for you. 
  
Do your homework before consultation.  Prepare well for your consultation.  When you search, look for rhinoplasty super-specialists.  There are other super-specialists for every procedure, e.g. revision breast augmentation, or body sculpting.  It is impossible for any one MD to be the master of ten or 15 cosmetic procedures.  Look for surgeons whose practice is the majority or entirely devoted to rhinoplasty, septoplasty, and associated procedures.  This would include both primary and revision rhinoplasty surgery.  Why not have the most specialized talent in your service?  Consider how much experience the surgeon has doing the procedure you are considering. We all get better at what we do with time and so those surgeons who have a long run of experience are the ones who have learned the most from experience. Residency and fellowship are where the learning begins, but for all of us, time and experience is where the talent and wisdom are amplified. 
  
Part of your preparation for consultation should be preparing a list of questions beforehand.  Bring a notepad, or I-pad or laptop, with you and take notes as the surgeon answers the question you are asking.  You should spend more time with the surgeon than with the office staff, because you need to get a sense of whether you are comfortable with the doctor.  You should not feel rushed such that you are on a consultation conveyer belt.  If the presentation by the office staff seems a bit to “sales-ie”, that’s also a yellow or red light. Take a friend or relative along since two heads are better than one in gaining information and understanding.  In the end, the purpose of the consultation is for you to be educated, not to be “sold”.  Ask yourself two key questions: “Is this surgeon teaching me or selling?” And secondly, “Can I put my my face ― and my life ― into this doctor’s hands? Can I completely trust him/her?”
  
There are excellent books out there that you can read and use to study up. It is worth the homework time you put in up front so that you make the right decision with respect to choosing a surgeon who has the talent, experience, and degree of super-specialization that you certainly want to have. You want to do it right the first time. 
  
When you visit doctor’s websites, the most important feature on the site is the before and after gallery.  If there are just a few examples of rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty, you wonder how much experience the surgeon has performing such surgeries.  You need to see dozens examples.  The more examples there are, the more likely you will see one or more that demonstrate situations similar to yours.  Look closely at the photos for natural results.  That is what you want.  Nobody wants to carry a sign saying “I have had a rhinoplasty.” You also need to see the computer imaging section of the site. See how closely the actual “after” matches the computer-generated after. Nothing better displays a doctor’s artistic and surgical talent.                                      
  
Reviews, particularly right here, on RealSelf, are very important and should be carefully digested. The larger the number of reviews, the better.  A consensus is generally correct. 
  
A consultation without computer imaging is, in my opinion, of much less value.  Why shouldn’t you see the predicted result of the procedure the doctor is proposing?  At consultation, photos are taken of you and loaded into a computer system that morphs your present appearance into the anticipated “after” based on your and the nasal surgeon’s input.  Imaging is an incomparable learning tool because it provides a forum for doctor and patient agreement on what would satisfy the patient and what is, based on the doctor’s talent and comfort zone, achievable.  After all, cosmetic surgery is 100% visual.  It is about appearance. So, without a visual evidence of what is planned, how can you make a decision as to whether or not you might be satisfied?  Talking about what your result will look like is worthless and confusing.  To anticipate a successful outcome, there must be a visual meeting of the minds between surgeon and patient. When you shop for clothing, you usually try on the outfit, right. How else can you tell if you would be satisfied?
  
Best wishes,
  
 
  
Robert Kotler, MD, FACS 
  
Over 4,500 nasal procedures performed

Kimberly Lee, MD · Answer

If you are afraid to undergo surgery again, non-surgical rhinoplasty may be an option for you.  The best recommendation is to consult with a board-certified specialist who can assist you with choosing the best option for you to achieve your goals.

David Alessi, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Your best option is a tip rhinoplasty revision.  Fillers are temporary and don't work well in post-rhinoplasty tip defects.  Likewise, fat injections don't work well in this area typically because the scarring makes the "pocket" too tight.  Fascia grafting or cartilage grafting works well.  The exact plan will be ascertained during your pre-op visit.  Seek out a consult with a board-certified revision expert.  Best wishes

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

You do have several options to correct your tip asymmetry but it is difficult to make recommendations based on this one picture. If you need structural support a small cartilage graft may be appropriate. Other techniques include soft tissue or diced cartilage augmentation to achieve the desired result. Consult with a revision specialist to discuss the best limited procedure for you.

Does tip rhinoplasty or compressed diced cartilage injection to the tip can fix my nose? (Photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Revision Rhinoplasty

Answer: Revision Rhinoplasty

Answer: Tip Asymmetry

Answer: Tip Asymmetry

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Does tip rhinoplasty or compressed diced cartilage injection to the tip can fix my nose? (Photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Revision Rhinoplasty

Answer: Revision Rhinoplasty

Answer: Tip Asymmetry

Answer: Tip Asymmetry

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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