Dislike my Nose...what Type of Nose Shape Fits my Face?

It is possible to reduce the size of your nostrils with an alar base reduction and refine the nasal tip with an open rhinoplasty.  Use of computer imaging software allows us to give the patient an idea of the end result of surgery.  It also serves as a goal to follow in the operating room.  When performed properly by a highly skilled surgeon, an ethnic rhinoplasty with alar base reduction can yield a fantastic result while allowing the patient to maintain the distinguishing characteristics of their ethnicity.  In general, the cost for this procedure ranges from $12,000-$15,000 depending on the individual circumstances of the patient. My junior assistant Dr. Yoo generally performs the surgery for $7,000-$10,000. Thank you, and I hope this helps answer your question. 

Excessively wide or flared nostrils can be reduced with a simple procedure called alar wedge resection, in which a crescent of skin is removed along the groove where your nostril meets your cheek.  It's a standard procedure which can even be done under local anesthesia and takes less than an hour.  The cost will vary mainly depending on what additional work is done on the nose at the same time.

Although it would be easier to tell if you photo included more of your face, it is possible that the size of your nostrils is out of keeping with your nasal tip. Nostril reduction should solve the flaring problem and my guess based on this limited photo is that your tip may need to be projected and widened slightly. See a rhinoplasty specialist who will look at all your views and your entire face before recomending a definitive surgical plan.

For more than 35 years I have been doing noses like yours to narrow the nostrils and refine the tip without creating an unnatural look. Make sure you see someone who does a lot of noses like yours. The cost is normally $7500-10,000.

Unfortunately, the photo does not show your entire face, therefore, a true and accurate assessment cannot be made. However, looking at the lower aspect of your nose you appear to have a wide and flared nasal base. Your tip also looks somewhat poorly defined. Rhinoplasty would be a nice option to help narrow your base and reduce the flare component of your nostrils. At the same time you could consider tip reshaping. A key factor in your case is maintaining ethnic consistency in terms of the result. Make sure you seek out a plastic surgeon who is versed in ethnic rhinoplasty. The average cost for this type of procedure in my office is around $6500 including facility, anesthesia and surgeon fees. Good luck.

There are several keys to a good rhinoplasty, but one of them is to tailor the procedure to correction the patient's specific anatomy, and in your case this would mean focusing on the cartilage at the tip of the nose and the size of the nostrils.  This would actually be a fairly straight-forward procedure, involving incisions inside the nose to refine the cartilages of the tip, and then incisions on the skin to narrow the nostrils but to also narrow the actual width of the base of your nose.  This is actually pretty commonly done, and the costs vary based on region of the country and surgeon performing the procedure.

Hi Anon in LA,

The lower third of your nose is wide and unrefined.  Rhinoplasty should be able to reshape this part of your nose.  The alar (nostrils) will need to be narrowed with external incisions, and the lower lateral cartilages reshaped and supported with cartilage grafts taken from your nasal septum.  Consult with a few rhinoplasty surgeons and then choose your surgeon most carefully.  The cost will vary from $7000 to $18,000 depending on the surgeon.  Cost should be one of your last considerations as the cost of repairing a poorly performed rhinoplasty is more expensive, and more importantly, very difficult to correct.  Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

Encino, CA

You could get a nose that fits your petite face. Therefore, your nose has to be narrowed aggressively and this can only be achieved with alar repositioning technique. Look at the before and after pictures and good luck.

Each rhinoplasty surgery is individualized to address the specific concerns of each patient. There are several techniques available that focus on defining and narrowing the tip and nostrils. In person consultation with an experienced surgeon is essential in deciding on the best procedure for you.

It is very typical for those interested in rhinoplasty to know what they don't like about their nose. And just like you, it is not always as obvious as a large nasal hump. Rhinoplasty to shape your tip, and reduce the flare of the nostril will improve things greatly. To see how much, computer simulation or imaging can be the answer to discovering the nose that will indeed fit your face. This exercise with your surgeon can enlighten you as to the potential changes and provide a visual trial of the new look. To start, before your consultation look for noses and features that you like in photos and bring them in with you. The computer can put these ideals to test on your photo and assist in exploring the 'best' nose for you.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd