Would rhinoplasty be feasible to make my nostrils less vertical and reduce overall bulbousness? (Photo)

Question

I am an older male with thick facial skin. I have large vertical nostrils (photo attached). Would rhinoplasty be feasible to make my nostrils less vertical and reduce overall bulbousness? The nostrils are the most important factor. Thanks.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Based on what we see, you appear to have relatively thick and porous nasal skin, which may be associated with rosacea. If the dissatisfaction with your nasal appearance is relatively recent, I would consider Consulting with a dermatologist: Rhinoplasty involves manipulating the underlying cartilage and bone of the nose, it does not affect the skin, and can sometimes lead to thicker nasal skin, or prolonged redness.. Utilization of 05% tretinoin on your nose may lead to a bit of thinning of your nasal tip. After addressing the thickness of your skin, the vertical slits at your soft tissue triangles maybe permanently lowered utilizing microdroplet Silikon-1000 injections. All things considered, I doubt you would need surgery. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Kyle Kimura, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photo.
I think you have a couple of different options to consider. For the notched nostrils, one option is something called a composite graft which is skin/cartilage taken from the ear and placed within the inside of the nostrils to lower the alar rim. You also have fairly thick nasal skin which looks somewhat sebaceous (oil secreting glands) and could be a candidtae for laser resurfacing which could thin the nasal skin a bit. The last option would be a larger rhinoplasty to reshape the nose and nostrils, but I would likely recommend the aforementioned options which are less invasive before considering.
Hope this helps and best of luck,Kyle Kimura, MD

Kadri Ila, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.
Rhinoplasty can often help refine a bulbous tip and adjust nostril orientation, even in patients with thicker skin. The key factor is understanding what is creating the vertical appearance of the nostrils and the fullness of the tip.
• Vertical-appearing nostrils are often related to the position and support of the tip cartilages• Refining and repositioning these cartilages can help soften the nostril angle and improve overall balance• A bulbous tip can be reshaped by carefully refining and supporting the existing cartilage structure• In patients with thicker skin, definition is created through structural support rather than aggressive tissue removal• The goal is to improve shape and proportion while maintaining a natural look that fits your facial features
A definitive assessment cannot be made without a detailed evaluation. Wishing you a smooth, well guided process and a result that feels natural and comfortable for you every day.
&mdash; Kadri İla, MD

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photograph, you may benefit from a rhinoplasty. A surgeon can accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. Fascial grafts may also be used to help improve tip refinement. The nostrils can be improved with placement of extened spreader grafts. With good surgical technique, you could have an outstanding result. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is impossible to give you more detailed advice based on this photo. However, answer is yeas when it comes to changing size and shape of nostrils and shape of tip. Hope this helps.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

The thickness of your nose can be refined by a rhinoplasty. The vertical component of the nostrils can also be reduced by alar grafts to decrease the vertical height. More photographs are need to give a more accurate answer.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Would rhinoplasty be feasible to make my nostrils less vertical and reduce overall bulbousness? (Photo)

Answers (6)

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