Big and meaty nose, is there a chance I can make it smaller with rhinoplasty? What can I expect from surgery? (photo)

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your
photograph, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can
accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your
lower nose.   Make
sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients
who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer
animation system. The most important aspect is to find a
surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a
qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

The amount that a nose can be made smaller depends on the relationship between the skin thickness and the strength of the underlying cartilages. We can't do anything about the thickness of the skin. But if the skin is thick, and the underlying cartilages are very strong, the nose can still be made smaller. This one photo doesn't give enough information for me to give an assessment of how thick I think the skin is.In general, be sure to read the section in the "Learn more" link on how to stay out of trouble while searching for a rhinoplasty surgeon. Rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. Also, at the *very* bottom of the "Learn more" page is a link to instructions on taking and sending photos that are comprehensive and useful for an online consultation like this, in case you'd like a more complete evaluation.

It looks as if you have early stages of rhinophyma. It’s a skin condition that can be treated with topical washes by a dermatologist to keep it from progressing. If it doesn’t respond it can be treated surgically as well with a thinning of the tissue.Best

An experienced rhinoplasty surgeon can permanently change the size, width, projection, and shape of your nose to create a more pleasing nose which complements your other facial features. Results can be life-changing!  An in-person consultation with a board certified surgeon can explain the expected results, surgical details, cost, downtime, and answer any questions. You can find lots of e-books online to help you understand the rhinoplasty surgery process. 

The areas that you described and would like improved can be addressed with a natural appearing rhinoplasty performed by an expert artistic plastic surgeon with extensive rhinoplasty experience. Patients with thicker skin can get a significant improvement in the appearance of the nose but need to be realistic about the result.
 
Keep in mind, that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you what to do based on limited 2 dimensional photos without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of the proposed operative procedure with you and your parents may not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or facial plastic surgeon (otolaryngologist) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. 

Robert Singer, MD FACS  
 
La Jolla, California

Thank you for your question. The answer is yes. Your nose can be made smaller. Please contact my office at 614-436-8888 and we can send you a copy of my book, When your nose Doesn't "Fit". The book will describe what can be done to help and give you a better understanding.