Can I have a alarplasty done instead of a rhinoplasty? (Photos)

An alar reduction can be done to reduce the size of the nostrils.  However, I recommend you schedule a consultation to discuss all of your goals in detail with a  plastic surgeon to determine what is best for you.

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your
photograph, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can
accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your
lower nose. You may also benefit from an alar base reduction.  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. The most important aspect is to find a
surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a
qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question and photos. Yes, it is possible to just perform a reduction of the size of your alar rims and not do a rhinoplasty. However, I would take into account the overall shape and appearance of your nose when considering reducing only the alar rims. You may benefit from reducing other parts of your nose such is your nasal tip so that everything proportionately decreases in size. I recommend you consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty who can discuss your goals, examine you, do a virtual simulation, and show before/after photographs to see what type of results you can expect to get. Good luck!

You can just have the alarplasty. This is a relatively short procedure. Patients typically don’t complain of pain. It is not uncommon for patients to go back to work in a day or two. I hope you find this information useful. For more information please watch the enclosed video.

An alar reduction can decrease the size of your nostrils as well as narrow the width of your nostrils.  However, this would only address one part of your nose.  A well executed rhinoplasty takes into account all of the features of the nose in order to improve the overall appearance.   

  It is possible to perform only alar-plasty to narrow wide nostrils.  This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia  The alar-plasty involves removal of a small wedge of skin at the base of the nostrils and narrowing them.  A full rhinoplasty  is performed under general anesthesia and can involve narrowing the tip and narrowing the bridgeline.