Should I get an alarplasty to look more feminine & have nose look less wide at the side? (Photos)

Question

Hi, im wondering if I should get a alarplasty. I'm a woman with a large nose and large nostrils that kind of naturally flare, I want to look more feminine and have my nose looks less wide at the sides. Would alarplasty be the way to go?

Anya Costeloe, DO · Answer

If you’re looking to make your nose appear less wide and achieve a more feminine look, alarplasty could be a suitable option. It focuses on refining the shape and size of the nostrils without altering the overall structure of the nose. However, if you are also concerned with the size of your nose and making your nasal tip more defined you should consider a rhinoplasty and an alarplasty. Thank you for the photos and your question. Best of luck!

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

I know, I don't have a complete set of photos from all angles here, but it seems to me that the two cartilages that form the tip of your nose are strong, and sitting in a wide position, and it's those cartilages that hold the alae where they are, making the whole bottom third of your nose look wider than you'd like to see it. From these pics, it seems to me that you might consider a rhinoplasty; I don't see that an alarplasty would change anything for the better.

How *much* to change the tip, or make other changes, and how much would that affect what the nose looks like? We figure that out with morphs, well before surgery. I'd love for you to see some excellent professionally-designed morphs of what could possibly be done with your nose. Morphs could also help you identify better just what's bothering you, and help you set a goal for the rhinoplasty that's accurate for your tastes. Profile and three-quarter views would be particularly important in morphing your nose. (Side note: in my opinion, morphs should really be done by the surgeon, or he should direct an assistant as she makes the morphs. Morphs should be made with a constant eye to what actually *can* be done in surgery, for that particular nose, and the surgeon has that information and judgment best.)

Finally, remember that rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. Changing the shape of the tip of the nose requires advanced techniques, and skill that most plastic surgeons don't possess with expertise. It's much better to not have surgery than to have inexpertly-performed surgery. Read my essay on how to stay out of trouble while selecting a rhinoplasty surgeon. And it also discusses how to take photos that are best for online evaluations.

Should I get an alarplasty to look more feminine & have nose look less wide at the side? (Photos)

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Everything you need to know about Alarplasty

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Should I get an alarplasty to look more feminine & have nose look less wide at the side? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Alarplasty

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