How can I fix my side profile and make my nose stick out less? (photos)

Question

I dislike my side profile I have been told I have a deviated septum I am due for septum surgery in a few months. However I want to improve my side profile what can would need to be done to make my nose stick out less

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.
 The configuration of your nose includes a slight over-projection of the nasal tip as well as some over-projection of the anterior nasal spine at the base of the columella. 
Reducing the tip projection may require also a reduction of the anterior nasal spine.   If the nasal tip projection is reduced,  a slight rotation of the tip may also be necessary.  The degree of this change can be evaluated in simulations and allows you to establish what is your comfort zone for change. 
The reduction of the to projection can be combined with adjustment in the direction of the septum to correct the deviation and this is a relatively common  situation.

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

Your nose is very strong in its forward projection from your face. The tip can be brought back closer to your face. We call that "de-projecting" the tip. 
Then, when the tip of a nose comes closer to the face, it usually makes the nose *look* longer, as if the tip had drooped, so it's usually important to elevate the tip at the same time.
The woman in the short video that I posted with this answer had the tip of her nose deprojected in her rhinoplasty operation.
How *much* to elevate the tip, or deproject the nose? 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 what's bothering you, and help you set a goal for the rhinoplasty that's accurate for your tastes. They would possible show how elevating the tip might help at the same time as deprojecting the tip. Bigger full-face images would be particularly important in morphing your nose. (Side note: in my opinion, morphs should always 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 only the surgeon has that information and judgment. Another aside: I also recommend that you not show morphs made by one surgeon to a different surgeon. If a surgeon makes his *own* morphs, you get to see whether he understands the important issues of your nose, and how your nose should be changed. But if you show the surgeon someone else's morphs, and he says "Of course I can make your nose look like that," then you don't really know if he fully understands, or even recognizes, the important changes shown in those morphs. And you don't know if he can make those changes during surgery.)
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 -- particularly, complicated work on the tip cartilages to bring the tip back closer to the face and elevate it -- 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.
Your nose is also a perfect example of why computer imaging is mandatory in rhinoplasty. You need to know exactly what the surgeon is planning to accomplish -- what features he thinks he can change, and by how much he thinks he can change them. I always email morphs to my online rhinoplasty consultations. When you see the surgeon's goals in the morphs, you'll know whether he has an eye for an attractive nose, and whether he shares your opinion of what constitutes an attractive nose. You'll also know whether the changes he proposes are large enough to be meaningful to you, and whether he understands your wishes enough to address all of your priorities. How would you ever get that figured out without the morphs?
Then, you could consider a small chin implant, which would make it looks as though the nose were even less prominent.Oh, and almost forgot to mention: do NOT have just a septoplasty if you are considering a full rhinoplasty. The septoplasty is best done by the same surgeon as the rhinoplasty, at the same time as the rhinoplasty. Having just a septoplasty before the rhinoplasty can complicate the rhinoplasty when that's eventually done.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

the projection of your nose could be done with conventional rhinoplasty techniques. Although it can be done at the same time as the septoplasty, you need to find out if your surgeon does cosmetic as well as functional rhinoplasty work.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photographs, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty and nasal tip deprojection to make the overall appearance of your nose shorter.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer animation system.  You should be able to view numerous pictures of actual patients with noses similar to yours performed by your surgeon.  If you cannot find enough real before and after pictures, then consider continuing your search for a surgeon.Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Behrad Elmiyeh, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS (ORL HNS) · Answer

Thank you for your question.
Based on your photos, you would require Septorhinoplasty in order to reduce projection of your nasal tip, refine the tip of your nose and also improve the angle between your lip and your nose which appears to be blunt.
Ensure that your surgeon has experience in improving shape of nose (Rhinoplasty) and also nasal functional surgery (Septoplasty) to get the best result.
Best wishes

How can I fix my side profile and make my nose stick out less? (photos)

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How can I fix my side profile and make my nose stick out less? (photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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