Can I achieve a slimmer nose with just an alarplasty? (photo)

You have a few options here. Just performing alar wedgevresections us simple and can be done under local anesthesia.  The tip plasty is likely to be quite more involved as well as pricey .  I think either one is a reasonable option in your case.

Alar base reduction or full rhinoplasty? You need a full rhinoplasty since if just the base is narrowed the remainder will look larger. See a very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who can show you natural results and not the overdone look. 

One important teaching in Rhinoplasty is that a change in one part of the nose has an aesthetic impact on the overall nasal contour.  For example if a dorsal nasal "bump" is taken down it will make the nose look wider above. In your case it looks like you have a good alar contour with a sill and therefore would be a good candidate for an alar base narrowing or alarplasty.  This wouldn't however change the shape or width of your tip and the area above it and might make them appear wider. As always a personal consultation with an experienced surgeon is the best way to make an informed decision.

Rhinoplasty is a surgery to improve the shape of the nose for breathing or appearance.Asian rhinoplasty creates definition by addressing the bulbous tip, retracted columella, thick skin, a wide ala with cartilage grafting. I would recommend consulting with a surgeon who understands these concepts for a safe and happy result. Safety comes first.

Doing the Alar base reduction alone will narrow the nostril base of the nose but it will not affect the tip or bridge of the nose. If you would like modify the tip for a sharper more defined shape then you would need a rhinoplasty. Having a rhinoplasty is common and if done by an expert, you can get good natural results. We are happy to consult with you in person or virtually if you wish.

Improving the nostril width with an alarplasty is a frequent request of patients wanting nasal refinement. It is possible to improve the cosmetic appearance of the tip alone without altering the rest of the nose in some patients. Whether the optimal option in your particular situation would be a tip rhinoplasty alone or a full rhinoplasty would best be determined at a consultation. Either procedure can be performed with a closed or open approach. 

Following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do based on a limited photo without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon with extensive nasal surgery experience who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or a facial plastic surgeon (otolaryngologist) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. 

Robert Singer, MD FACS 

La Jolla,California

An alar plasty only involves narrowing wide nostrils.  That is it.  To the narrow the entire nose  requires osteotomies placed in the nasal bones and an tip plasty to narrow the nasal tip cartilages.  Cartilage grafting will make the nose bigger and wider, not more narrow.  For many examples, please see the link and the video below

From a single photo (which offers incomplete diagnosis at best), it appears that simply narrowing your alar base (nostrils) will not give you the kind of result at the tip you are looking for.  It appears that you'd likely benefit more from a true rhinoplasty in addition to a little narrowing of your alar bases.  I would recommend you see a rhinoplasty specialist in your area and get an in-person consultation with 3D imaging - this will give you a much better idea how you will look with the changes you and your surgeon decide on.

To achieve a slimmer, sharper, and more defined appearance to your nose, the underlying structures will need to be changed.  Often times, this includes changing the shape of the cartilage and bone, but in your case, achieving the look you desire may be accomplished with cartilage manipulation alone.  Alar base surgery can narrow the base of the nose, and decrease the size of the nostrils, but it will not impart any significant change on your nasal tip.  Based on the goals you have mentioned, my suggestion would be a rhinoplasty.

Dear FengJiu,You would be a candidate for a rhinoplasty to narrow your nose. Osteotomies are performed to narrow the bridge and the tip nasal cartilages need addressing as well. This will provide you with a refined appearance to your nose that looks natural and fits your facial aesthetics. To see what these changes would look like I would advise you to see some experts in rhinoplasty surgery and have imaging performed to show you the proposed changes. Once you have done this you will have a good idea of what rhinoplasty will provide for you. Review the surgeons before and after photographs of noses similar to your own. See examples in the link and video below. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.