I had an attractive long nose and just wanted it a bit slimmer and ended up with a short, stubby, piggish, bulbous nose. I am told I have no septum or cartilage left. What does a plastic surgeon usually do to make a nose longer again? Do you do anything with the septum?
Answer: Lengthening the Overly Shortened Nose After Rhinoplasty
The shortened nose or "pig nose" deformity is a common complaint following rhinoplasty surgery. In order to lengthen the nose special grafts will have to be placed during revision surgery. "Septal Extender" and "Extended Spreader" grafts can be placed to increase length. Since you do not have septal cartilage, I would prefer to use rib cartilage for the procedure. Rib will provide the most durable and lasting effects for this situation. Good Luck....Dr. Corrado
Helpful
Answer: Lengthening the Overly Shortened Nose After Rhinoplasty
The shortened nose or "pig nose" deformity is a common complaint following rhinoplasty surgery. In order to lengthen the nose special grafts will have to be placed during revision surgery. "Septal Extender" and "Extended Spreader" grafts can be placed to increase length. Since you do not have septal cartilage, I would prefer to use rib cartilage for the procedure. Rib will provide the most durable and lasting effects for this situation. Good Luck....Dr. Corrado
Helpful
November 30, 2010
Answer: Lengthening a shortened nose
This is one of the more complex rhinoplasty procedures. Lengthening a nose that has been made too short from a previous rhinoplasty requires grafting usually from a rib or ear or both in order to achieve the necessary length since there is generally very little septum left to work with. Alternatively, irradiated rib cartilage from another source can be used as well. I would seek the consultation of a skilled rhinoplastic surgeon who specializes in revision procedures.
Helpful
November 30, 2010
Answer: Lengthening a shortened nose
This is one of the more complex rhinoplasty procedures. Lengthening a nose that has been made too short from a previous rhinoplasty requires grafting usually from a rib or ear or both in order to achieve the necessary length since there is generally very little septum left to work with. Alternatively, irradiated rib cartilage from another source can be used as well. I would seek the consultation of a skilled rhinoplastic surgeon who specializes in revision procedures.
Helpful
November 30, 2010
Answer: Making a short nose longer.
If your nose is short and there is no septal cartilage left, we usually go to the ear. The rib can also be used but is much more uncomfortable.
Helpful
November 30, 2010
Answer: Making a short nose longer.
If your nose is short and there is no septal cartilage left, we usually go to the ear. The rib can also be used but is much more uncomfortable.
Helpful
Answer: Nose lengthening difficult without grafts
It is very difficult to make the nose look longer without any cartilage grafting. It is one of the most difficult maneuvers to perform during a rhinoplasty operation. In trying to gain length, many times the tip of the nose comes up and looks too upturned. There are some tip techniques that are performed such as dome suturing techniques with cartilage struts and tip grafts to give more projection to the nasal tip, but we are only talking about several millimeters, not a large change. Scar contracture is also working against a tight skin envelope if this is a revision rhinoplasty.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Nose lengthening difficult without grafts
It is very difficult to make the nose look longer without any cartilage grafting. It is one of the most difficult maneuvers to perform during a rhinoplasty operation. In trying to gain length, many times the tip of the nose comes up and looks too upturned. There are some tip techniques that are performed such as dome suturing techniques with cartilage struts and tip grafts to give more projection to the nasal tip, but we are only talking about several millimeters, not a large change. Scar contracture is also working against a tight skin envelope if this is a revision rhinoplasty.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
December 3, 2010
Answer: Reconstructing the Over-Operated "Piggish" Nose
Regarding: "How is a Nose Made Longer?
I had an attractive long nose and just wanted it a bit slimmer and ended up with a short, stubby, piggish, bulbous nose. I am told I have no septum or cartilage left. What does a plastic surgeon usually do to make a nose longer again? Do you do anything with the septum?"
Your story is tragic and unfortunately too common. Nose surgery is the real life surgical version of playing with a house of card. Here every change to the nose affects every other nose structure and removing or changing too many structures can result in nasal collapse.
I seriously doubt that a single rhinoplasty to narrow your nose and make it slimmer resulted in a shortened, collapsed piggish nose without a septum. The usual scenario is SEVERAL operations in which the septum is lowered to reduce a hump or deviation followed by its use for cartilage grafts to correct other nasal deficiencies, followed by scarring shortening and collapse.
The more operations a nose undergoes, the harder / impossible it is to return it to its former appearance.
I would advise you to see a Plastic Surgeon who specializes in nose reconstruction surgery since I suspect a shortening of the nose is not the only thing wrong with it. An exact identification of what needs to be corrected must be made and a plan formulated based on this plan. Since the septum is largely gone, nose support and lengthening would have to be based on a rib cartilage secured to the forehead bone as a cantilever.
Good Luck.
Dr. Peter Aldea
Helpful
December 3, 2010
Answer: Reconstructing the Over-Operated "Piggish" Nose
Regarding: "How is a Nose Made Longer?
I had an attractive long nose and just wanted it a bit slimmer and ended up with a short, stubby, piggish, bulbous nose. I am told I have no septum or cartilage left. What does a plastic surgeon usually do to make a nose longer again? Do you do anything with the septum?"
Your story is tragic and unfortunately too common. Nose surgery is the real life surgical version of playing with a house of card. Here every change to the nose affects every other nose structure and removing or changing too many structures can result in nasal collapse.
I seriously doubt that a single rhinoplasty to narrow your nose and make it slimmer resulted in a shortened, collapsed piggish nose without a septum. The usual scenario is SEVERAL operations in which the septum is lowered to reduce a hump or deviation followed by its use for cartilage grafts to correct other nasal deficiencies, followed by scarring shortening and collapse.
The more operations a nose undergoes, the harder / impossible it is to return it to its former appearance.
I would advise you to see a Plastic Surgeon who specializes in nose reconstruction surgery since I suspect a shortening of the nose is not the only thing wrong with it. An exact identification of what needs to be corrected must be made and a plan formulated based on this plan. Since the septum is largely gone, nose support and lengthening would have to be based on a rib cartilage secured to the forehead bone as a cantilever.
Good Luck.
Dr. Peter Aldea
Helpful