One nostril is wider than the other and it affects my smile/ frown lines. Do I Have a Deviated Septum? (photo)

An in-person exam would be necessary to determine whether or not your septum is deviated. I would recommend consulting with a board certified and experienced rhinoplasty specialist. They will be able to look at your nose in person and provide you with advice. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

Without an intranasal exam (looking inside your nose) it's difficult to determine the extent and shape of your septal deviation.  Correcting a deviated septum alone will not have a big impact on the asymmetry of your nostrils.  Your concerns regarding the deviation and nostril asymmetry could be addressed during an open rhinoplasty.  

Dear MissSnow,

thank you for your question and photos.  We can not determine if you septum is deviated or not because your septum is inside the nose.  A surgeon needs to look inside your nose with a speculum to determine this.  However, a septoplasty will not affect the outward appearance of the nose.  A Rhinoplasty can address these issues.  As far as one nostril being wider than the other, an exicision at the base of the nostril could be considered.

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

 A deviated septum can only be diagnosed by internal physical examination of the nose. A deviated septum  can cause  nasal obstruction when it is crooked  enough to be blocking airflow through the nose. It is usually related to trauma to the nose. Nostril asymmetry can be best treated with an alar-plasty  which will narrow the nostrils and can make them more symmetrical.

Without an intranasal examination, and from the photos you've posted, I can't say whether you have a deviated septum or not.  In terms of the nostril asymmetry you are describing, there are two possibilities.  Either the asymmetry is a result of asymmetries in the alar cartilage (nostril itself), or the asymmetry is a result of underlying bony asymmetries in your facial skeleton.  In my opinion, asymmetry in the bony skeleton is more likely given that you describe differences in your nasolabial folds (smile lines).  Most of us have natural asymmetries in our faces. Many people (myself included) have one side of the face that is flatter and broader, and one that is fuller and more narrow. from your photo, your left side looks like your broader side.  The most common place to observe this asymmetry is in the area of the cheekbones, but some people see the difference in the nasolabial fold.  In my experience, women tend to notice it in themselves more than men, because women tend to notice as they put their blush on, that one side requires a bit more than the other to achieve the same highlighting effect.  

An in-person examination of the inside of your nose, outside of your nose, and your facial skeletal structure can help determine what the right procedure for you is.  Good luck!