I am a boxer. What options do I have for a rhinoplasty?

Hello,

With the correction of a long nose, it is possible that it may not be necessary to perform any bone work. I would really need to see photos to provide you with the best advice. Please feel free to send any photos to my office and I would be happy to evaluate them for you. My contact information is listed in my profile. Thank you, and good luck.

Dr. Nassif

The only solution for making a long nose shorter is a reduction rhinoplasty. Depending on the surgical technique performed the nose may not be that much weaker. For instance if your nose is more cartilage than bone - we could reduce the nose without breaking the bones. In addition strengthening grafts of cartilage could be placed at the same time. You would have to accept the fact the most boxers noses are a mess after their career is over. So - here is what  I would tell you if your were in my clinic

 

1) We can shorten your nose

2) You will likely need a revision surgery (maybe even nigger than the forst one) when your boxing career is done

but only #1 is a certainty

Dear boxer patient from Reseda, CA
As a rhinoplasty specialist, I perform many male rhinoplasties as well as revision rhinoplasties. Since you’re planning to start a boxing career , I would wait for a while. You are correct; once you have rhinoplasty any subsequent injuries to nose may require a revision rhinoplasty. At that point it would be a more difficult surgery with prolonged recovery and swelling. If you sustain any injuries to your nose during your boxing career that requires fixation, then an aesthetic rhinoplasty can also be performed at the same time.

While a long nose might be a disadvantage to you while boxing, I would recommend you not have corrective surgery until your boxing career is over. You are correct in that it is more difficult to fix a nose that has been operated on previously as the results are less predictable.  I would recommend protective gear and wait until you are done boxing before contemplating nasal surgery.

Hi Boxer,

Let's get ready to rumble!

I have operated on a few Perfect 10 Models who then months later participated in the Perfect 10 Boxing Matches.  Though they wore head gear, I certainly would not have wanted to be in the ring with them while they were throwing punches.  Rather than work on your nose, you should work on your boxing skills to avoid being hit on it.  You can have rhinoplasty to make your nose smaller.  Once your nose heals, it is no more susceptible to fracture from trauma than an unoperated nose.  In fact, if you have a little nasal septal reduction at the time or your rhinoplasty, there should be a little more give in your nose when it is smashed by an 8 ounce glove. 

Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

Encino, CA

Rhinoplasty won't actually make the nose weaker. Many times, in fact, it can add greater support strength to the nose. That being said, it depends on when you're planning your boxing career. I would advise a minimum of at least one year after rhinoplasty to wait to start boxing because your nose, particularly nasal bones, are still healing. So, in this first year, your nose is more susceptible to an adverse outcome with boxing trauma. 

It is important not to have a rhinoplasty while pursuing boxing as a profession. In a professional boxing career one is likely to break the nose on multiple occasions and there is no sense of performing a rhinoplasty prior to boxing. The constant pounding from boxing will certainly reduce the overall projection of the nose anyway.  

Most boxers in their career will incure fractures unless they are good at ducking. I would wait until you are finished boxing before you have your rhinoplasty unless you willing to go through revisions when it is over.

If you are considering rhinoplasty, you must understand that the profession you are starting as a boxer puts you at high risk for having it re-broken and ruining your surgical result.  Rhinoplasty does not necessarily weaken you nose.  I think you may be talking about "saddle nose deformity" or the scooped out nose a lot of boxers and fighters have.  This is "lack of support" is from the nasal septum being injured or dissolved.  This should not happen as a result of rhinoplasty but it can happen with multiple trauma to your nose.  Nasal cartilage is extremely fragile and getting bleeding next to the septum "hematoma" could result in the cartilage being injured and getting re-absorbed.

I personally know a lot of fighters and they have had their noses and ears injured multiple times.  You should seriously consider waiting until you finish your boxing career to have rhinoplasty.

Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.

An overly long nose CAN be shortened with a relatively straight forward procedure in which the septum is trimmed. This may not need to have in-breaking of the nose. BUT - the idea of shortening the nose by the small distances such procedures provide will somehow provide a significant avoidance from a large and powerful swing from a boxing glove is overly optimistic and unrealistic.

The OTHER point to consider is that Boxing is NOT a cosmetic pursuit. There are no boxers whose faces and noses have been improved by this pursuit. You may wish to consider having your nose done after you walk away from the ring.

Good Luck.

Dr. Peter Aldea