Is it difficult to shorten the nose tip (not nose bridge)? Doctors would tell me they couldn’t do it for my nose.

Question

My nose projects too much, thus creating imbalance in my face. I have a somewhat weak chin and don’t want injections or implant and instead want a shorter nose tip (aside from the nose bridge). Is it not feasible for my nose tip to get shorter or are all the doctors I went to unable to create that? What’s difficult about shortening the nose tip?

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

From the photos, it appears that you are an excellent candidate for rhinoplasty. You can certainly have both your bridge and tip reduced and shortened. It is important to see an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon that can perform computer imaging at the time of the consultation. That way you can create a good plan of what you want at that time.

Steven M. Denenberg, MD · Answer

If the doctors you visited felt they were not able to deproject your tip, then it's good they declined to offer you an operation. It certainly is possible to do, though. The woman in the short video that I posted with this answer had the tip of her nose brought back closer to her face, though much more than your nose requires.
Your morph is very good: you de-projected the tip, and lowered the bridge so it's not as strong, but still doesn't look scooped-out.
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. Deprojecting a tip requires advanced techniques, requiring 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 the essay I prepared on how to stay out of trouble while selecting a rhinoplasty surgeon.

Jeffrey Joseph, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for the question and photos.  Your nose is slightly over projected, and can be deprojected.  I would not remove any causal septum, as this will overrotate your nose.  I would; however, lower your dorsum slightly to bring it into more harmony with your face.

Michael Dobryansky, MD, FACS · Answer

You can and should have a less projecting tip of your nose in addition to shaving down some of the dorsal areas. Making your tip narrower is also quite possible.

Suleyman Tas, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Hello, thank you for question and photos you provided, based on them it seems that you have overprojecting nasal tip. With deprojection to shorten the length of your nose will help you to have desired, natural and beautiful nose, by Closed and Atraumatic Technique you will be provided maximal healing, minimal edema&swelling no scar on your columella.Best Regards,

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  You appear to have a an overprojecting nasal tip which is elongated.  Based on your photographs, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty and a nasal tip deprojection to shorten the length of your nose.  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

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

It is hard to understand why your doctors have not been able to give you advice on how to shorten your nose. That is a very common thing to do in my practice. There are many tricks that we use to deproject the nose and you should be a good candidate. watch the video to learn more

Barry M. Weintraub, MD, FACS · Answer

Your nose does seem to appear overprojected, and you may benefit from a rhinoplasty procedure with a subtle tip refining. With a conservative and artistic approach, a more desirable, feminine result can be achieved. A word of caution, however:  you have overcorrected your nose in the photoshopped version, but I do understand that you are looking to bring more facial harmony and balance to your profile. Do do consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience in rhinoplasty

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The photographs demonstrate an overly projecting nose and an under projecting chin. A  closed rhinoplasty procedure can accomplish shaving down the dorsal hump, and decreasing the overall projection the nose, however there will be some limitations as to how much can be de-projected. This  de-projection is usually 2- 4 mm. Consider placement of a chin implant to augment the chin forward to help with facial balance in proportions, especially with respect from the side profile with the over projecting nose. The chin itself can be augmented more than the nose can be de-projected. The size, shape and thickness of the  chin implant is best determined at time of the consultation and examination. Digital computer imaging performed in the office and also be very helpful to understand what can and cannot be accomplished  with one or both procedures  on your facial features. For many examples of this combination from our practice, please see video below

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

Think of the nose as a geometric solid, like a triangle.  Whatever you do to one part will affect the others. Clearly, you not only have an extended tip but a significant dorsal hump.  From a frontal view, shortening the tip alone will leave you with more of a parrot nose, which is not aesthetically pleasing. It is always easier to show a change in profile but we also have to consider the head on appearance of the nose.  You need a rhinoplasty.  Chin weakness is a personal choice. You do not need to address this part of the face unless it troubles you.

Is it difficult to shorten the nose tip (not nose bridge)? Doctors would tell me they couldn’t do it for my nose.

Answers (11)

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