Can the depressor septi muscle be cut without having a full rhinoplasty? Concerned about droopy tip.

Question

I don't mind my profile so much when I'm not smiling, but when I do smile, my droopy tip becomes much more pronounced. I look like a different person. Could snipping this muscle be an option and could this be done under local anesthesia? Thanks!

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question. As far s I can understand from tour question for get rid of the droopy tip I can recommend you rhinoplasty surgery. The other operations will be temporary and you cannot achieve your goal. If you can provide photos from front of your face, from the side of your face and 1 meter away I would be able to make a proper evaluation. It would be more convenient to decide with face-to-face consultation. Best Regards!

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

It's a teeny tiny muscle. If you cut it, the nose will look precisely and exactly like it did before the muscle was cut. When you smile big, your nose will still droop, because the muscles in your cheeks and upper lip have much more of an affect on the nose's length during the smile than that little muscle. The only way to make the nose less long during smiling is to shorten the nose during a rhinoplasty, so the nose is shorter when your face is at rest. Then, when you smile, the nose will still try to get longer, but it *started* from a shorter position, so it won't be able to get as long with the smile as it did before surgery. Get it? Also, during the rhinoplasty, stitches are placed inside the nose that would keep it from changing *as much* during the smile as it did before surgery.

Charles East, MBBS, FRCS · Answer

Hi, the smiling dynamic change causing a 'droopy tip' is often a combination of muscle factors- the depressor is rarely the cause so you need to consult a specialist rhinoplasty surgeon for proper assesment, evaluation and advice about your needs.

Celal Alioglu, MD · Answer

Hello first of all I need to see your photos to give a surgery decision but when you smile if disturbing you I can make tip a little up

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

A transoral approach from just under the upper lip can be used to isolate and cut depressor septi muscle. It does reduce mobility of the mid upper lip and some people don't like that. However, it definitely reduces the pull on the nasal tip. 
Best
Dr. J

Can the depressor septi muscle be cut without having a full rhinoplasty? Concerned about droopy tip.

Answers (5)

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