Rhinoplasty? Alarplasty? What do I need? (Photo)

Hello, and thank you for providing photos along with your question. Based on these photos, you may be a candidate for both a rhinoplasty and a septoplasty. You seem to have an overprojected nose, plus the crooked appearance may be due to a deviated septum. The two procedures can address your nose projection and nasal asymmetry.

To determine the best approach, I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with a reputable board-certified facial plastic surgeon, particularly one with a strong rhinoplasty portfolio. Such experts will have the training and experience to perform the most advanced surgical techniques, as well as artistry and knowledge of facial aesthetics, harmony, and proportion, helping you achieve the most natural-looking results. During your consultation, your surgeon can assess your facial profile, recommend the best approach, and ensure the best possible outcome.

The most important question to ask is if the doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon. If the answer is “yes,” then ask for pictures of rhinoplasty results he or she has personally produced to determine if your aesthetics align. Safety should always be #1, so ask about the anesthesiologist who will be taking care of you. Does the surgeon work with this anesthesiologist regularly? Is the anesthesiologist board certified? If your surgery is taking place in an outpatient facility, is it licensed and accredited and inspected? Ask who you can call if you have questions or concerns immediately postoperatively. Also ask if you will be seeing the surgeon postoperatively, or will you never meet with the surgeon after your procedure. In addition, I would ask if all postoperative visits are included in the price. Ask if there is a revision policy: if an adjustment were needed, would you be charged full price? I know my answer is a bit lengthy, but it should give you an idea of how much time surgeons should spend with patients during consultations! In my own practice, my consultations can take up to a full hour, because surgery is serious and it warrants focused time. I have specifically not discussed the anatomy of your nose in the photos because that part of the consultation is best done in person. To add one other very crucial piece of information: make sure, even your aesthetic is aligned with your surgeon and all of your questions have been answered in a satisfactory manner, that you feel comfortable with your surgeon. I perform many revision surgeries, and the one commonality that patients share with me about their prior surgeons who left them with a subpar result is that patients “went against their gut feeling.”

Based on these photos, you are excellent candidate for septo-rhinoplasty. Beside reducing the hump, you will need correction of the nose tip and nostrils, possibly airway improvement. Significant amount of cartilage grafts will be needed for this purpose; they are usually harvested from patient's septum. In person consultation with an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon, expert in rhinoplasty, is recommended. Good luck.