Do I have a hanging columella? Can my nose become shorter? (Photo)

Question

I believe I have a hanging columella especially while smiling. My nose appears slightly long for my face and I'd like to find a way for it to appear shorter. Is this possible? The other picture of Kim Kardashian is a tip I would find ideal or the idea I am referring to in comparison to my own.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

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 a cephalic rotation of your tip to turn
up your tip slightly and address your columella.  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.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

William Portuese, MD · Answer

From the limited photographs presented, it appears that there is a hanging columella present which can be reduced. Reducing the columella will shorten the nose in the vertical axis. To prevent it from drooping  when smiling requires releasing of the depressor septi ligament. For more information  and  before-and-after many examples of reduction of the hanging columella, please see the link and the video below

Jeffrey Marvel, MD · Answer

On your side view I do not see a hanging columella.  When you smile your septalis muscles create more of the look of a hanging columella.  This can be corrected by a rhinoplasty, and even non-surgically by injecting some Botox into the base of your nose to weaken these muscles.  I would recommend a rhinoplasty and perform primarily a tip plasty.  That would involve thinning and rotating your cartilages to give your tip a more refined look.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Based on these pictures I agree that you do have a hanging columella which can be elevated. After lifting this, the tip defining point, which establishes nasal length, will become clear so that the  nasal length and the naso-labial angle (the angle between the lip and the nose) will be just fine. Having said that, if your nose does look long when examined by another experienced rhinoplasty specialist your nose can be shortened when lifting the columella.

Do I have a hanging columella? Can my nose become shorter? (Photo)

Answers (4)

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