Is Rhinoplasty the right option for bulbous/droopy noses? Or can filler also be an option as well? (Photos)

A bulbous nose or bulbous nasal tip is a term defining a nose like looks like a bulb... this is large, voluminous, rounded... makes it any of a sense injecting a filler to augment it? Of course not. Additionally, do research "blindness nasal fillers". So in short, no way, delete that idea from your mind, I understand patients have fear to a rhinoplasty due to the huge amount of bad results and some terror histories, that's why it is essential consulting with 10-20 surgeons and not necessarily nearby our residence.

Then, your nose and your tip are not bulbous at all, that's a wrongly tagged diagnosis, you have another type of nose made of or called as boxy tip, with verticalized lateral cruras (parenthesis tip), severe alar rim retraction (nostril ascencion), columellar show (not droopiness) and a slight dorsal hump.

Neither is it a droopy tip, happens you have a powerful levator alaeque nasi muscle, this is easily solved by severing it during rhinoplasty, so that you don't "flare" the ala when smiling.

Adding volume to the nose would only lead to a larger nasal appearance. In that regard, I believe you would be a better candidate for rhinoplasty surgery, for a narrower nasal tip appearance, with nasal shortening, tip deprojection, and a tip lift, for a less distracting, and more feminine nasal appearance. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery in Frisco, TX:
This is a great and very common question. A bulbous nose — often defined by a wide or rounded nasal tip — is usually caused by thick skin, prominent cartilage, or a combination of both.
Liquid rhinoplasty (non-surgical nose reshaping using dermal fillers) can help smooth out bumps and improve symmetry. However, it cannot reduce the size of a bulbous tip — and in many cases, adding filler can make the tip appear even more prominent. It’s a good option for temporary contouring, but it’s limited when it comes to tip refinement.
If your main concern is a bulbous nasal tip, surgical rhinoplasty is typically the most effective solution. With rhinoplasty, we can reshape and refine the underlying cartilage and, when appropriate, address soft tissue to create a more defined and balanced look. These results are customized, permanent, and natural-looking.
Whatever option you’re considering, it’s essential to choose a surgeon with specialized experience in rhinoplasty. I always recommend working with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is also a member of The Rhinoplasty Society. Membership in this organization reflects a commitment to advanced training, skill, and a deep understanding of nasal anatomy.
At Lone Star Plastic Surgery, I offer personalized consultations to help you understand which approach is right for your unique features and goals.
Warmly,Dr. Sean HillBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonLone Star Plastic Surgery – Frisco, TX

Hello and thank you for your question. Addressing the shape of your nose (especially the nasal tip) is actually one of the most common reasons people seek out and undergo a rhinoplasty. Unfortunately, there are no good non-surgical approaches which would properly achieve what you're looking for (and nasal filler carries the risk of blindness)! An open septorhinoplasty can best address both your aesthetic concerns and any functional issues with your nose. I would be able to adjust the size, shape, and definition of your nose (including the tip)!

This truly is a surgery of millimeters- and whether you're looking for a minor adjustment or a major transformation, it requires exceptional surgical skill to achieve functional and natural-looking results! Because your nose is the DEFINING feature of your face- I would only recommend seeing a surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty procedures, and who has significant training and experience performing these surgeries. I actually trained under one of the world leading rhinoplasty experts (who performs 1,000+ nosejobs annually).

I recommend for you to setup a formal consultation with me (or another plastic surgeon who is extremely comfortable with rhinoplasties) to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate your options, and develop a personalized plan just for you. I hope this helps!

Dr. Donald Groves
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Nose filler can be used to hide a bump on the bridge, but has the side effect of making the nose look long and very strong. Your issue is really too much length and tip shape and position. The outcome of a rhinoplasty would be widely considered a better result than filler by any group of people.

The treatment for a bulbous nose is not fillers and will not work at all. You would benefit from a rhinoplasty. A rhinoplasty takes 2 hour to perform under general anesthesia and costs $8,000.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hello and thank you for your question and photographs. Although an exam in person is ideal, from your photographs alone it appears that you can benefit from a subtle tip rhinoplasty where the nasal tip cartilage is modified for a more refined look to improve the bulbous aspect you discussed in your question. Fillers can be a temporary solution, by placing it on your tip to make it more "pointy" in appearance. However, fillers only serve as camouflage and would not address the problem directly. A bulbous tip needs to be reduced in volume -- fillers only add volume. In terms of the surgical details, the modification of your nasal tip cartilage can be done with trimming, stitching or grafting. I would also place a mastoid fascia tip graft between the reconstructed tip complex and your skin to (1) reduce cartilage prominence (tenting up of the nasal tip skin by cartilage) and (2) to also create a feminine tip-defining point (subtle natural upturn).

Just an fyi and also important, if your septum is deviated and you have breathing difficulty as you stated, a septoplasty may benefit you as well -- insurance can cover this and reduce the price of your surgery☝️

The next step for you is to pursue the right aesthetic plastic surgeon for your rhinoplasty. In your rhinoplasty consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your aesthetic goals and concerns specifically, IN PERSON, and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course. I also think a key component of your consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon. This is difficulty to do without seeing your surgeon in the office, in person. It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on rhinoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. You are an excellent candidate for rhinoplasty, I think it is one of the most beautifying surgeries that we do as plastic surgeons. A large portion of my practice is dedicated to rhinoplasty surgery. It is important to only see plastic surgeons with extensive experience in rhinoplasty, ie perform at least 6 per month and have performed hundreds of cases. Also, critically evaluate on-line galleries to see if their art form resonates with yours. Rhinoplasty is definitely a grey haired plastic surgeon's sport. Best wishes to you.

When filler is used in the nose, which in my practice is never, something is put into the nose, under the skin. When you *add* something to the nose, it has to look *bigger*: longer, or wider, or something like that.
You seem to be a good candidate for a rhinoplasty. The amount that your nose is bulbous and the amount of tip elevation that you might like make this a procedure for an expert, but it's totally a reasonable operation.

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photographs, you are a great candidate for rhinoplasty. Maneuvers for your surgery would include dorsal hump reduction, tip refinement, nasal tip deprojection, tip elevation, among other maneuvers. This would be a much better option for you than fillers. With good surgical technique, you could have an outstanding result. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon