Cartilage Rhinoplasty - how much can I expect my nose to change? (Photos)

Question

Im interested in a cartilage rhinoplasty to fix my button nose. I live in the United States and was wondering if it was worth it to go to other countries (Thailand) to get the procedure done. Im also wondering how much I can expect my nose to change with the surgery.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. A "button" nose usually has thick skin, weak or short lower lateral (tip) cartilages, and limited tip projection, which is exactly why a cartilage-based rhinoplasty (often called structural rhinoplasty) can be very effective. In your case, the surgeon would typically use cartilage grafts &mdash; frequently from your own septum, and sometimes ear or rib cartilage &mdash; to add definition, refine the tip, and create more projection. How much your nose can change depends heavily on your skin thickness: thicker skin tends to soften and partially hide fine refinements, so the change is real but often more gradual and natural-looking than in patients with thin skin. From your photos, a moderate, harmonious refinement is realistic; an overly "done" result is neither achievable nor desirable with this nasal type.
On the question of traveling abroad: surgical skill matters far more than the country, but medical tourism does add real considerations &mdash; limited follow-up if you have swelling, bleeding, or healing concerns, and difficulty arranging revision if needed. Rhinoplasty also has a long healing course, with tip swelling sometimes taking 12–18 months to fully settle, so accessible aftercare is genuinely valuable. If you do travel, choose a board-certified plastic or facial plastic surgeon, review many before-and-after cases of thick-skinned button noses specifically, and plan to stay long enough for initial healing.
I'd recommend an in-person or detailed video consultation with imaging/morphing so you can see a realistic simulation tailored to your anatomy before committing. That conversation is the best way to set expectations and decide whether the result justifies the trip.

Cartilage Rhinoplasty - how much can I expect my nose to change? (Photos)

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