Can Excessive Cartilage Be Removed Without Breaking the Nose?

Although it is possible to do what you are asking it may not always be the right thing to do.  Osteotomies are certainly not the hardest part of rhinoplasty and narrowing the bony part of the nose can help keep the structures balanced.

There are situations where tip rhinoplasty would not require breaking nasal bones or cartilage. However, it is impossible to say without photos or an in-person consultation if this would apply to your case. You can use this site to find board-certified facial plastic surgeons in or around your area. Research their before-and-after photos and their testimonials. Make appointments to talk to a few in person. It may be that your tip can be fixed without addressing the rest of the nose, but it may be that you will need to reshape the entire nose to get the most aesthetically pleasing result. Consulting face-to-face with a facial plastic surgeon will answer your questions and allay your fears. I hope this helps.

It is possible to have cartilage removed without having to break your nose. Only the first 1/3 of your nose is your nasal bones and the other 2/3 is cartilage, so many times it is not necessary to break the nose. However, it depends on the anatomy of your nose and what look you want to achieve.
Should it come down to having to break the nasal bone in order to achieve the look you want, discuss all concerns with your plastic surgeon. He/she should be able to minimize your fear with their expertise and advice.
Best regards,
Dr. Speron

Without seeing photos of you it is impossible to tell what surgical techniques your nose would benefit from. In general, a large nasal tip rarely improves with just cartilage removal. Usually, some improvement in tip projection and rotation will often improve the appearance of a large nasal tip without actually removing much if any cartilage. Breaking the bone is only done if the bridge is crooked or needs bone removal to reduce a hump. Hope this helps.

It's impossible to tell whether you would benefit from nasal osteotomies without seeing your photos. In general, if the upper 2/3 of your nose is too wide, or if you have a profile-bump, then osteotomies would be required. If you only require tip work, then the nasal bones might not need to be fractured.
I hope this is helpful for you.

Hi Anon,
Depending on your anatomy, physical exam of your nose, and diagnosis of what "the offending party" in the tip of your nose is, limited cartilage removal without "breaking" the nasal bones can be performed. It really depends on your nose and what bothers you. See the link below regarding "The Subtle Rhinoplasty".
Most importantly, choose your rhinoplasty surgeon most carefully.
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

If the problem with the nose is in the lower 1/2 then there is no reason to break the nose. See an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and you should be able to get what you want.

Rhinoplasty involves reshaping the cartilage and possibly breaking the nasal bones. However, not every rhinoplasty requires breaking of the bones. It really depends on your anatomy and what the goal of the surgery is. To give you better advice, it would be best if you post some pictures. Good luck with your surgery.

The upper 1/3 of the nose is bone, the rest is cartilage. If the only thing you need is to reduce the tip, it might not be necessary to "break" the nasal bones. However, often the bones need to be addressed for balance. I like to use computer imaging to demonstrate potential changes. Plus, "breaking" the bones is really a precise controlled procedure that takes 2 minutes in an otherwise 2 hour operation. It does not make the nose less stable, it only means black and blue for a few days more to get the best result.

I find it difficult to answer a question like this without really seeing the photographs.  Anything is possible in rhinoplasty surgery in terms of what combinations of techniques spell success in surgery.  However, I find it troubling when patients say - I want a rhinoplasty, but please do not break my bones.   Well, what if that limits the result?  Would you really sign up for surgery and then limit your own result?  Probably not.  Its like saying, "I want you to build me a house, but please do it without using cement."  

In general, rhinoplasty is a combination of techniques that add up to pleasing results.  These are ideas that you must discuss with your surgeon in detail and do not be disappointed if you cannot get what you want the way you want it.