Is nose cartilage squishy or somewhat hard?

Question

Considering a rhinoplasty for big nose. The somewhat hard stuff in my nose feels just the right size with loads of soft tissue on it. I feel like if the surgeon just reduces the amount of soft tissue I have , my nasal structure itself is ok. Is there a way for me to tell how much cartilage vs skin is making my nose big

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Generally speaking, since you did not present any photos, rhinoplasty involves management of both soft and hard tissue of the nose, including nasal airways. Only after thorough, in person evaluation, an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with expertise in rhinoplasty, can estimate what and how much each structure needs to be corrected to achieve desired balance and harmony. Good luck.

Robert Ciardullo, MD · Answer

Cartilage versus skin on the nasal tip: it is on the nasal tip where the relative thickness of the skin and strength of the Cartilage are relevant to the outcome. People with thick skin and thin, flimsy cartilage will have less benefit from rhinoplasty than people with thinner skin and firmer Cartilage. The nicest tips occur with just the right balance between skin thickness and firmness and texture of the Cartilage. An experienced surgeon can tell the relative contribution of skin versus Cartilage by feel. In one extreme if you lightly squeeze the tip of your nose and it feels soft and spongy and you do not feel anything firm chances are you have thick skin and thin Cartilage. If on the other hand you lightly touch the tip of your nose and feel points sticking out, You probably have thin skin and firm Cartilage. Those are the two extremes there is every variation in between.

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hi there! Great question. It really depends. Sometimes, the cartilage can show-through and we get an idea of what's happening underneath. Other times, the thickness of the skin camouflages much of the underlying structure. The problem with thinning the skin is that you could cause vascular compromise or excessive thinning leading to irregularity. This can be a very difficult problem to correct. That's why we often focus on changing the underlying structure to make it stronger to "stretch" the skin, thus making it more refined. Hope that helps!

Is nose cartilage squishy or somewhat hard?

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