Am I a good candidate for alar base reduction? I’m 3 years out from primary rhinoplasty (Photos)

Question

My surgeon did a great job and I love my nose, but I think I could benefit from an alarplasty because my nostrils are still quite wide and flared. I go to my surgeon for a follow up and steroid shots on Monday and I am considering asking if it’s an option for me.

Miguel Mota, MD · Answer

I believe you are! I’m sure your surgeon will agree. You look great and you will look even better with the alar base reduction. Just understand if he doesn’t want to be overly aggressive because sometimes reducing the alar base too much can produce unaesthetic results.
Best of luck,
Dr. Miguel Mota

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

Yes, you are a good candidate for Alarplasty. 
Alarplasty is a very fine and quick procedure that can narrow the nostrils and reduce the flare to soften the appearance. It has other names as well like ‘Weir Excisions’ or ‘Nostril Reduction’. It can be done under local anesthesia. The social down time is about a week. If you want to work from home you can start it the next day. For the procedure you are evaluated to determine how much of a change is needed. In the past surgeons had recommended 2mm to 5mm reduction. This was measured by drawing a vertical line at the lateral sides of the nostrils (alae). However, I prefer to use a mirror and Q-tips to show the patient how much of a change can be accomplished. Pushing with Q-tips from the sides can mimick the change. Patient can also pinch their upper lip near the base of the nose and will show them how much narrowing to expect. I try to quantify the change as small, medium and large. Rarely it can be extra large as well. I always advise the patients to be conservative in the change as it is an irreversible procedure. The procedure historically did not get a lot of attention in plastic surgery. It was always thought of an adjunct procedure done with a rhinoplasty. Historically most ethnic groups did not get rhinoplasties. Hence, the caucasian rhinoplasty was the main procedure that plastic surgeons were trained on. 15 years ago I started making videos on the procedure and putting them on YouTube. In my blogs I started using the term 'Alarplasty' as most doctors and patients were using the term nostril reduction or Weir Excisions. I started noticing that over years the term 'Alarplasty' became popular among patients as well. Today, most patients use the term freely and know a lot about the procedure. I am very excited to see this evolution over the years. My African American patients were especially happy to learn that you can make the nose look small without having to do a full rhinoplasty. Many of them noticed that every plastic surgeon they went to offered a full rhinoplasty. 
In summary, Alarplasty is a unique procedure in itself and hopefully more surgeons get trained in it and help more people.
You can visit our alarplasty website to learn all about it. 
Click on the video link below to see the details.
Regards
Dr. J

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I agree that you are a good candidate for alarplasty. Just be aware that many surgeons don’t like doing alarplasties and many are too conservative

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear sushiqueen,
It might have been beneficial for us for you to have removed your glasses for the photos.  At any rate, you do demonstrate some nostril flaring, which can be improved with an alar reduction.  By all means, raise the subject with your surgeon.  Good luck!

William Portuese, MD · Answer

You do have wide nostrils, and an Alar base reduction would be helpful for better nasal balance and proportions with your face. This procedure involves removing a small wedge of skin at the base of the nostrils. This can be done under local anesthesia.

Am I a good candidate for alar base reduction? I’m 3 years out from primary rhinoplasty (Photos)

Answers (5)

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