Will an alarplasty help with a nose that is too wide only when smiling? (photo)

Question

My nose gets too wide only when I smile and I don't like the way it looks. When i'm not smiling I don't mind my nose. The tip droops, if I get a alarplasty it will make my nose tip droop even more?

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is normal that nose opens more when you are smiling due to attachment of muscles to the allar base. There is also muscle that attaches to the columella of the nose and pulls tip down when smiling. This one can be detached during rhinoplasty or it can be procedure for itself. Hope this helps.

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

Most of the time, the nose widens when smiling because the tip is weak. There is facial muscle attached to the nose, and it's always going to be there. Just narrowing the nostrils won't help. The tip has to be better stabilized to resist this pulling effect. Be sure to see a rhinoplasty specialist for consultation.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Alarplasty might well be a good procedure for you. I do it in many rhinoplasties but it can also be done as a stand alone procedure.

Salih Onur Basat, MD, EBOPRAS · Answer

Hi and thanks for your question. Based on your photos you have cartilage malposition and cartilage excess in your nose. It cause wide and round tip appearance. In your case , cartilage excess in nose tip can be excise and tip cartilage can be reshaped to get more defined feminine nose tip. I can not say anything for your nose profile with that photo.

Richard Mark Winters, MD · Answer

There are several ways that a surgeon can make incisions in the alar base and/or crease in order to change the shape/size/orientation of the nostrils.... these must be exercised with caution and performed only for the absolutely right indications, otherwise they can be an epic failure

From your limited photograph your alar base may be a tad wide, but a much more detailed evaluation is required for a proper recommendation.... that said, in my practice the most common cause of what you describe as widening with smiling is due to lack of tip projection and support.... a properly projected/supported tip resists ‘spreading’ or ‘collapsing’ with animation..

Good luck

Richard Wellington Swift, MD · Answer

Thank you for posting your photo with your intetesting.  It appears that you have a bulbous nasal tip and would benefit from a rhinoplasty, possibly and alar base reduction, but I would need to see more of your face and eyes to measure where your inner canthus is located with respect to your outer alar margin. Releasing the depressor muscle at the time of your rhinoplasty will prevent your tip from drooping when you smile. I am sure that you want beautiful and natural results.  I recommend that you have a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is experienced with rhinoplasty. Best wishes,  Richard Wellington Swift,  M.D., F.A.C.S .

Victor Manuel Agudelo, MD · Answer

Hello.
Nasal tip widening while smiling, basically happens due to the action of certain muscles that push the tip down and sideways. When tips lack cartilage support to hold enough this downward push, widening is greater, so tip structural modifications is needed to be done.

Will an alarplasty help with a nose that is too wide only when smiling? (photo)

Answers (7)

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