I Want to Get my Hanging/drooping Columella Fixed?

       These are all good questions, it depends on the actual anatomic problem and how it is repaired.  Pictures would help, but physical exam would be more helpful.  If the problem is just the caudal septum is too pronounced, this can be resected and should not change anything else.  If the footplates and medial crura have laxity, they can be sutured back to the septum.  This maneuver should not affect other dimensions either.  I usually perform this type of rhinoplasty under local anesthesia, and I take pictures right after the procedure.  The improvement is immediate and swelling is minimal.  I do not put on bandages for this.

It is possible to perform just a columella-plasty and leave the remainder of the nose alone.  The columella-plasty can be done under a local or general anesthesia depending upon the patient’s desires.  There are no bandages and no cast placed on the nose after this type of procedure and it will not make the nose wider or more flaring after the procedure is performed.  Simply trimming back the membranous and cartilaginous columella will tuck the columella inward so it will no longer hang.  Please see the link below for a before and after photo of a patient who underwent rhinoplasty with columella-plasty. In addition, please see the link to the video below which shows reduction of the hanging columella