Bad rhinoplasty result and narrow nasal bones, is there a way to give it a more harmonious shape? (Photo)

Question

A few years ago I (male, 25 years) had a septorhinoplasty. I can breathe better now but my nose looks really bad from the frontal view. The nasal bones are too thin and overly narrowed. Is there a way to reverse the osteotomies or widen the upper part of the nose. I also have thick skin on the lower part of my nose. Is there a way to give the nose a more harmonious shape so that it doesn't look so wide and bulky? Is it possible to achieve some improvements? Thanks for your help!

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

It's often difficult to "reverse the osteotomy," coaxing the bones out wider. If that can't be done, then some grafting on the sides can be accomplished, to make the upper part of the nose *look* as though the bones were wider.  How much can be done for the width of the tip part of the nose depends on the strength of the tip cartilages and the thickness of the skin: the stronger the tip cartilages, the more they control the width of the tip, the more narrowing can be accomplished by modifying those tip cartilages.
How *much* to elevate the tip, or deproject the nose, or make other changes? 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. The changes that your nose needs require advanced techniques, and skill that most plastic surgeons don't possess with expertise. For most noses, 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.

And for those who have had previous surgery, it also discusses how to tell whether your first surgeon should be performing your revision.

Andrew M. Ress, MD · Answer

Radiesse applied right to the nasal bones will camouflage this deformity. As Radiesse is a bone substitute it might actually transform into new bone and no additional correction would be required in the future. This is as long as good technique is used.

Bad rhinoplasty result and narrow nasal bones, is there a way to give it a more harmonious shape? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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Bad rhinoplasty result and narrow nasal bones, is there a way to give it a more harmonious shape? (Photo)

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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.