Would weir incisions give me the result I want? I'm 3 months post op rhinoplasty. (photos)

Question

I am 3 most postop from my rhinoplasty and my nose is still excessively wide when I smile - same as preop as my surgeon did no work on the nostrils. My surgeon said I could come back for weir incision but he doesn't think that will help with the wide flair when smiling. Would like to get opinions from other surgeons on whether weir incisions will give me less flair when smiling.

Aaron Stone, MD · Answer

The weir incision/excisions are for narrowing the alar base width so it approximates the intercanthal distance of your eyes, normally 32mm, at rest. Your problem appears to be an over active levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle on animation. That is better treated by injecting botox into the muscle or resecting or ablating it.I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication required for you to make an informed decision regarding your surgery.My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship in order to know if this assessment is valid.

Nicholas Husni, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

You are early in the healing process.  Best to wait until you have your final result.  In my experience, when you try to improve something on the face that only appears with animation (such as smiling) the results are sometimes not as good as you expect them to be.  You have a beautiful result for 3 months.

Vasdev Rai, MD · Answer

Any improvement from your Weir's will be negated by scars of Weir's. Do not do it.Your surgeon is right in his/her restraint.

Scott R. Brundage, MD · Answer

Aesthetically speaking the base of the nose should not be wider than a perpendicular line drawn done from each medial canthal area (the inside corner of your eyes). The width should be close to this. Yes, your nasal base can widen with smiling but if it appears too wide in repose I would consider Weir reductions.

Robert J. Paresi Jr., MD, MPH · Answer

Thanks for the question.  Weir excisions or alar base resections are used to narrow the alar base at rest.  Unfortunately, I cannot see the position of your medial canthus on the photos to determine the appropriate nasal width for your nose.  Weir resections are less effective in addressing the nasal width with animation (smiling) although it may help some by narrowing the overall starting nasal width.

Would weir incisions give me the result I want? I'm 3 months post op rhinoplasty. (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Would weir incisions give me the result I want?

Answer: Would weir incisions give me the result I want?

Answer: Weir incisions for a wide nasal base

Answer: Weir incisions for a wide nasal base

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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Would weir incisions give me the result I want? I'm 3 months post op rhinoplasty. (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Would weir incisions give me the result I want?

Answer: Would weir incisions give me the result I want?

Answer: Weir incisions for a wide nasal base

Answer: Weir incisions for a wide nasal base

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.