Can the width of the nasal bone be reduced with a rasp and not be broken? Asian rhinoplasty. (Photo)

Question

I've had numerous consults with doctors about addressing the width of my nose. In one of the offices, the patient care coordinator noted that the sides of my nasal bone can be shaved down just as a dorsal hump on top of the nasal bone could be, with a rasp. Is this done very much and what is that procedure called (eg, the top of the nose would be dorsal hump reduction)? I'd like to do more research on this and would rather actually reduce the width rather than increase the height of the bridge.

Edwin Kwon, MD, FACS · Answer

Although you can rasp down the bones on the nasal sidewalls, this is unlikely to give you significant narrowing or your nose.  You share a common characteristic to many Asian patients who have very flat and wide nasal bones.  
I find that Asian patients rarely need osteotomies of their nasal bones if you augment the bridge of your nose with either a synthetic implant or an implant made from your tissue (diced cartilage fascia graft).  
The reason this is true is that once you augment the bridge, you are able to create new dorsal aesthetic lines that are narrower and are defined by the new implant rather than the nasal bones.  The low, wide nasal bones almost disappear as the optical focus shifts to the   new nasal bridge.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

In general, when we rasp someone's nasal bridge, it appears to take on a wider appearance. Bridge narrowing during rhinoplasty typically involves osteotomies. Thank you. Dr Joseph

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

To me your bridge doesn’t appear excessively wide. However trying to narrow the bridge with a rasp will get you nowhere. The bones have to be broken and moved inward.

Steven J. Pearlman, MD, FACS · Answer

Each patient needs to be individually evaluated from more than the front view. Also your surgeon needs to feel the nasal bones to determine size and shape. Patient care coordinators are not surgeons and can only guess what can be done. Most often Asian nasal bones are so small that shaving or narrowing them via osteotomy does very little to nothing. Adding a little to the bridge can make the nose appear narrower and your eyes appear closer together.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

To reduce the width of the nasal bones requires osteotomies placed in the nasal bones and resetting them itoa more narrow position. It is not possible to rasp the sidewalls

Can the width of the nasal bone be reduced with a rasp and not be broken? Asian rhinoplasty. (Photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Asian noses tend to have very small nasal bones so shaving does very little

Answer: Asian noses tend to have very small nasal bones so shaving does very little

Answer: Can the width of the nasal bones be reduced with the rasp and not broken?

Answer: Can the width of the nasal bones be reduced with the rasp and not broken?

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Asian Rhinoplasty

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

Can the width of the nasal bone be reduced with a rasp and not be broken? Asian rhinoplasty. (Photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Asian noses tend to have very small nasal bones so shaving does very little

Answer: Asian noses tend to have very small nasal bones so shaving does very little

Answer: Can the width of the nasal bones be reduced with the rasp and not broken?

Answer: Can the width of the nasal bones be reduced with the rasp and not broken?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Asian Rhinoplasty

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