Break or Not to Break Nose During Rhinoplasty?

Most commonly the bones are shaved down over the dorsum and the hump is removed. Once this is done the base of the bones have to be broken to move the base of the bones inward to close the nose down into a pyramid.
I would not overly concern your self with the detailed parts of the surgery as if it is necessary it needs to be done.

Breaking the nose is usually done when a large hump is removed from the bridge of the nose or if the nose is too wide. Small humps can be gradually shaved down without the need to break the nose. Although, breaking the nose post-operatively is pretty well tolerated and it can give you a fantastic result. Good luck!

The two main reasons that your nasal bones would need to be broken during a rhinoplasty are to either narrow the width of the nose or to reconstruct the dorsum after a large hump has been removed ("closing an open roof deformity" in technical terms). Therefore, there are some patients that do not need to have the bones broken as part of their individual procedure, but many do.
Many patients are quite concerned about this part of their rhinoplasty, and fear that it may be significantly uncomfortable, cause a longer recovery, etc. The reality is that there can certainly be more bruising and a bit more discomfort when breaking of the nose, or osteotomies, are required, but if it is necessary to achieve the desired result, both cosmetically and functionally, it needs to be done.
Hope that helps and good luck!

Dr. S

Osteotomies (breaking the nose) is the essential part for narrowing the bony part of the nose. When a nasal hump is reduced, oseteotomies are needed to narrow the nasal bridge.
If you are getting only the tip worked on, then osteotomies are not needed.
Regards

Hi Mary,
Good question. What is the difference between breaking or not breaking the nose during rhinoplasty? A loud cracking sound with, just kidding.
Most noses require cutting the nasal bones (breaking) to narrow the upper 1/3, and to close the roof of the nose which was uncovered by the removal of the dorsal boney hump.
Some noses do not require cutting of the nasal bones.
Individual noses need to be examined, the goals of the rhinoplasty need to be set, and then the plan to achieve those goals is made. Whether or not the nasal bones are "broken" during surgery will depend upon the balance and harmony of the nose, and what needs to be done to achieve the best result.
The good news is that "breaking" the nose does not add discomfort to rhinoplasty recovery (amazingly).
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P