How Much Difference Will Reducing Bulbous Nose Tip Make?

Being concerned about the postoperative results and how different you look is a very common concern of rhinoplasty patients. What's more interesting, is that those patients who are very concerned that others will notice are indeed somewhat disappointed when no one actually notices!It is hard to predict what other people's reactions will be.  I am from the belief that Friends will only notice a rather drastic change and may not even notice a bump being removed or a crooked nose straightened.   My recommendation is to make the changes that you want and not worry about what others will think. Most people are engrossed within their own issues and don't have a very detailed recollection of your face. While it may be obvious with the before and after photographs sitting beside themselves, it is much less obvious without the before picture.

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photograph, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty. Your appearance can still be kept very natural looking. Your surgeon can accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. Cartilage grafts may also be used to help improve tip refinement. 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.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Reducing a bulbous tip will change the shape of your nose but it should be subtle.  It should not change the look of your entire face.  A skilled surgeon should be able to decrease the size while contouring your nose to fit well with your other facial features.  The key is to have your procedure performed by a board certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon with experience and expertise is rhinoplasty.  Ask to see before and after photos of their own patients.

Great question!  My goal when it comes to rhinoplasty is to make you a better version of yourself by enhancing your natural beauty and features through conservative rhinoplasty.  If you take a look at my rhinoplasty photo galleries, you will notice that I don't create the "same nose" for every person, because the truth of the matter is that the same shaped nose is not going to look good on every single person.   Every surgery of mine is individually customized and tailored to that specific patient, keeping in mind their facial features, ethnicity, genetics, skin type and thickness (which is very important when addressing a bulbous tip), gender, and goals for their nose.  My patients still look like themselves post-surgery, just a newer and improved version.   Be sure to do your due diligence with research before undergoing your rhinoplasty, as you want to be sure to go to a board certified plastic surgeon who performs both structural AND functional rhinoplasty, and performs the procedure regularly and on a vast variety of patients (males, females, Caucasians, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, first time rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, etc).  Many surgeons perform what we call "reductive" rhinoplasty, which compromises the strength and integrity of the nose, which then leads to breathing problems and collapsing of the nose and nostrils after surgery due to the nose being weakened through this "reductive" surgical approach to rhinoplasty.  With my dual approach of "structural rhinoplasty" and "functional rhinoplasty", I am always making the nose stronger than it was to begin with, as well as improving your breathing, so that you are not only pleased with your results 1 year, 2 years after surgery, but also 10,15,20 years after surgery.  

The nasal tip can be reduced without changing the overall look of the nose and the face. In fact, a good result is when nobody notices a change in your face. RegardsDr. Janjua

Most people do not appear "totally different" after rhinoplasty surgery. One of the goals of rhinoplasty is to allow your nose to blend in and become less conspicuous. Even when significant alterations are made to one's nasal appearance, the result may not be specifically noticed by friends, other than a generally improved appearance.Hope this helps.Dr Joseph

Reducing a bulbous tip has the potential to change
the entire appearance of your nose. Because the tip is essentially at the
center of the nose, this type of rhinoplasty is designed to refine and improve
by making a large tip less noticeable. However, that being said, your
rhinoplasty will not necessarily make you look completely different. A good
surgeon will specify your surgery to your needs and wants, designing your new
nose to complement your features and to fit in with the rest of your face.

As long as the rhinoplasty is done well, it will not make you look like a totally different person.  This is because the nose should not stand-out on a person's face.  It should fit in well with the other structures and not draw attention to itself.  When you notice beautiful faces, it is normally because of their eyes, lips, bone structure, etc.  It is never because they have a beautiful nose.  The nose can only stand out and detract from otherwise pleasing features.  See a rhinoplasty specialist who can give you a detailed examination and make a recommendation to get the nose you are hoping for.

The modern-day rhinoplasty is geared towards creating a more refined appearance to your existing nose - not getting a new nose altogether.  Your nose appears to have a widened tip and base; refining both of these attributes will give you a more aesthetic version of the nose you already have, without changing your overall look.  Seek out a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who you feel comfortable with.  I often create a simulation to "show" you what options you have so we are on the "same page" before operating.  That way, any differences in opinion on what would look best on you would be worked out PRIOR to undergoing surgery.

Thank you for your inquiry!



It seems that you are a good candidate
for a conservative rhinoplasty that will improve the way your nose looks to complement your
facial features in a natural fashion. However, without a physical
examination it is not possible to provide you with specific details. I highly
recommend that you schedule a consultation with a well-experienced surgeon.



It is important to mention that the
finest cosmetic results in any particular case are based on a variety of
factors, including: the unique anatomy of the patient, realistic expectations,
a well-informed and detailed discussion with your plastic surgeon concerning
the best options for you especially covering a deep understanding of the pros
and cons of any given choice you will adopt.



Please keep in mind that following the
advice from a surgeon online who offers to tell you what to do without a
physical examination covering the nature and the status of the tissue,
assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing
the pros and cons of each operative solution would not be in your best
interest. With that in mind, it is the safest and for your best interest to
find a plastic surgeon with solid experience and certified by the American
Board of Plastic Surgery who is ideally a member of the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons that you will trust and be comfortable with. You should
discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.



Good luck!!!



Ali Sajjadian, MD FACS