Would it be possible to get my old bulbous nose back? Can septal cartilage be used? (Photo)

Question

I had a rhinoplasty maybe 7 months ago. I asked the doc is he could make my nose look less bulbous which he did but i don't like it. The change was minimal but I honestly regret doing this because now my nose looks too thin for my face. I have an Apointment with the doctor set for next week to discuss if he can make my nose look bulbous again like it was before. He told me he used the closed technique for my procedure but i was wondering, would it be possible to make my nose look bulbous again?

Richard W. Westreich, MD · Answer

HI there Eddie,It would be possible to get the nose to look more robust by adding cartilage grafts to the tip called batten grafts. They may not be able to make the nose look exactly as it was before, but could get you pretty close. It is not a particularly complicated procedure to do this.Best of luck

Reza Momeni, MD, FACS · Answer

Although your swelling may go away further and the nose may look even less wide at the tip with time (which sounds like is NOT what you would like), it's still better to wait until the changes after the operation are finalized, and then think about revision.  If the technique used was to suture the tip cartilages together, it may be possible to remove those sutures and get some of the old shape back.  This is something you should continue to discuss with your surgeon and think about revision when the time is right for the tissues.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

I encourage you to wait at least a year before making a final judgment.  The result shown is fairly acceptable at this point.  Be careful what you wish for because further surgery may not make you happy.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

First you should give it a good year to settle down. The nose acutally still looks swollen especially in the middle vault which may make the tip look smaller now.

Mark B. Constantian, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Two years ago I published a paper in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery that gave data on why patients wanted another rhinoplasty, based on 150 of my own patients.  About 20% believed that they had lost a recognizable feature, or an ethnic or family identity.  You are not alone.It is certainly possible to restore much of your prior tip shape.  Once you have healed--at about a year--you can go ahead.  Make sure that you find a surgeon whom you like, who could be your original surgeon, and who understands your personal aesthetic and has done this procedure.Most patients who restore their original nasal shapes are happy with the outcomes.  I have described such patients in my textbook.I wish you the best.

Would it be possible to get my old bulbous nose back? Can septal cartilage be used? (Photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Rhinoplasty revision

Answer: Rhinoplasty revision

Answer: Wanting the old nose back is common and normal

Answer: Wanting the old nose back is common and normal

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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Would it be possible to get my old bulbous nose back? Can septal cartilage be used? (Photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Rhinoplasty revision

Answer: Rhinoplasty revision

Answer: Wanting the old nose back is common and normal

Answer: Wanting the old nose back is common and normal

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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