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Does pinching my nostrils together damage my nostrils and/or make my nostrils more flared? (Photo)

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W SarahJul 31, 2024

My nostrils flare upwards and outwards making my nose look like an upside down triangle. I am 18 now and ever since I was 12 I have been pinching my nostrils together trying to reduce my nostrils flaring. My mom told me that if I kept pinching my nostrils that I would damage the cartilage and cause it to rebuild bigger and more flared. Is this true? I am worried that I have caused the opposite result of what I was trying to accomplish. DOES PINCHING NOSTRILS CAUSE DAMAGE IT/ MAKE NOSTRILS BIGGER

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Dr. Tanveer Janjua, MD
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Dr. Tanveer Janjua, MD
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Answered on Aug 1, 2024
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Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS

Your surgeon will be in the most educated position to answer this for you definitively. Asymmetries always exist to a certain extent before surgery, and many remain after surgery. Certain asymmetries can be improved during surgery, but in terms of your nostrils the biggest source of asymmetry I...

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Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS

Alar base reduction works well to reduce the width and flare of nostrils. Asymmetries between the size of nostrils can also be addressed to a certain extent, when other aspects of the nose are symmetric. For your nostrils, the position and shape of the columella creates the asymmetry rather than...

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Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS

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Based on the medical literature, dermabrasion is the treatment of choice for minimizing the appearance of nostril narrowing incisions. Please do your research widely since dermabrasion is not a frequently perform procedure anymore. Thank you for this excellent question. Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

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