What's the Best Way to Fix a Natural Ski-jump Nose?

Depending on the 3-dimensional anatomy, there are two basic ways to approach this problem: 1) Deproject the tip - reduce the length the nasal tip sticks out from the face or 2) Augment the dorsum - build up or add material (preferably your own cartilage) to the bridge of the nose.  Sometimes a combination of both is required to obtain the absolute best result.  Unfortunately, the photo you provided is not quite clear enough to determine what is best for you.  Your next step should be to visit an experienced plastic surgeon for a live consultation.  Best of luck... 

It sounds like your tip needs to be deprojected, which will  help provide a smoother transition from midprofile down to the tip, and depending on the technique chosen, this can allow for a slight downward rotation of the tip if desired.  The alternative is to build up the profile, which can be done with either cartilage or Gore-tex.  You need to do your homework and find a surgeon who is experienced in these techniques, and is able to make the results look natural.

I read your concern, and reviewed your profile photo. You do not appear to have a "ski jump": your bridge is straight, and your tip is prominent and overprojected.

You could consult several reputable rhinoplasty specialists to learn what to expect after tip-plasty, Rhinoplasty Surgery.

I hope this is helpful for you.

Regards from NJ.

By the picture you've submitted, I think you have a nice nasal profile.  What others see is often different than how we perceive ourselves.  That said, if you want to reduce the tip projection of your nose, I would be cautious about anything too drastic.  Often the tip only requires a very small change to achieve the enhancement you might be seeking.  Be sure to discuss your concerns, goals and expectations with your plastic surgeon.  This is the best way to achieve a satisfying result.    

While some patients with a "ski-jump" nose can benefit from building up the bridge of the nose with fillers, your photo suggests an over-projected tip, rather than a shallow dorsum (bridge). The only way to correct such a nose is with a rhinoplasty.  Rhinoplasty of the nasal tip should always be customized to a patient's specific anatomy and goals and should never be a cookie-cutter approach.

Also, as you research plastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons, be sure to check out their before and after photos. This will help you to get a sense of their style but also to get a sense of the relative volume of surgeries they perform. If a majority of the surgeon's pictures are of rhinoplasties, you can reasonably conclude that they do it frequently. This is an operation where experience counts.

All the best,

--DCP