How much smaller is nose possible to make? (Photo)

Question

I had my rhinoplasty and everything went well. However a lot of questions came to my mind when i realized that my nose is significantly smaller. So i started to wonder how much is it possible for patient to smaller their nose? For example if patient has thick skin and cartilage has to be taken from rib or ear rather than thin skin patient with enough their own cartilage. The main question is how do doctors analyze the face so the nose doesn’t become too small or too big. I’m genuinely curious.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

In general, rhinoplasty is the surgery of millimeters. When we operate, most of what we do is based on how things look and feel, during surgery. Small adjustments are made, and then the nose is inspected. In our practice, we utilize computer Imaging to establish goals. I hope this answers your question. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. The nose should be designed to fit with and complement the rest of your facial features.   There are some limitations based on pre-operative anatomy.   I highly recommend that my patients focus much more on real longterm before and after photographs rather than 3D imaging.   I encounter so many patients in my practice who see me for revision rhinoplasty who previously had surgery elsewhere who feel like they were mislead into surgery by surgeons who relied heavily on 3D imaging without adequate real before and after pictures to back it up.  Photoshop is easy but real surgery is very different.

I always recommend that you carefully evaluate your surgeon’s online before and after gallery on their website for both quality and quantity of results. Make sure that there are hundreds of real before and after pictures which demonstrate long-term follow up results. If your surgeon is posting mostly on table results without real long-term follow up results, that is usually a major red flag.  If a surgeon is posting mostly just splint removal day videos without longterm follow-up pictures, that can also be a red flag.   Long-term results are much more meaningful than on table results or 1 week post-op results.

Best wishes and good luck.

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

How much smaller is nose possible to make? (Photo)

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How much smaller is nose possible to make? (Photo)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.