Would a Person with a Small Bifid Indention on the Tip of the Nose Be Turned Down for a Rhinoplasty?

Question

Hello, I have a rhinoplasty consult coming up in a about a week and a half. I have a slight bifid indention running down the center of the tip of my nose. I can clearly feel the indention. I have noticed it starting to become more and more prominent. I was just wondering if a rhinoplasty could help with this defect? Would I be turned down for any reason? Also, do most plastic surgeons have skills in this type of a defect. Just feeling nervous and any info would help. Thanks

John M. Hilinski, MD · Answer

The answer is - yes. Rhinoplasty surgery is done all the time by facial plastic surgeons to address the bifid nasal tip issue. I would be surprised if a true expert rhinoplasty surgeon turns you down - unless you have a medical issue that precludes having surgery. I would say that most plastic surgeons focus on other types of cosmetic surgery - not on the nose. You need to find a facial plastic surgeon that has dedicated expertise in cosmetic nose surgery. Do your homework - it will pay dividends down the road.

Jeffrey Rockmore, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The line that you are describing is from a separation of the cartilages that form the tip of your nose. In some cases, these cartilages are not fused together in the middle. This creates a slight separation, which results in the line that you see in your nose. This is called a bifid tip.

	The bifid tip can be corrected as part of a rhinoplasty. The cartilages can be brought together and held by sutures. This remodeling of the tip is a standard part of a rhinoplasty, when needed, and should be able to be done by any plastic surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty.

	I would suggest discussing your nose with a board certified plastic surgeon that has considerable experience with rhinoplasties. They can analyze your nose and discuss the options with you, which would included correction of the bifidity.

	Best of luck with your nose.

	Jeff Rockmore

Thomas A. Lamperti, MD · Answer

Rhinoplasty can address your bifid tip. The two basic ways to fix the issue is to suture the cartilages of your tip closure together or to fill in the depressed area with a soft tissue graft.

	Often the bifid tip is related to having thin skin. If the problem is related to having tip cartilages which are too widely spaced, the suturing method may be needed to narrow this spacing.

Christopher Saunders, MD · Answer

No. This is part of a rhinoplasty often!

	It is commonly part of the tip work to reshape the cartilages. I routinely suture the lower lateral cartilages as part of my operation.

	Good luck

	Dr Saunders

Eric Swanson, MD · Answer

I think Nicole Kidman may have had the same thing (at least a bifid columella), although maybe not any more!  It is certainly not a problem for the surgeon.  It is called a bifid tip.  Usually we trim the nasal tip cartilages and suture them together in the midline, and this can lessen or even eliminate the indentation.  If you want to look at some tip rhinoplasties and read more, you can use the link to this section of my website.

Would a Person with a Small Bifid Indention on the Tip of the Nose Be Turned Down for a Rhinoplasty?

Answers (10)

Answer: Bifid Tip and Rhinopl

Answer: Bifid Tip and Rhinopl

Answer: Indentation in tip of nose is very treatable.

Answer: Indentation in tip of nose is very treatable.

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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Would a Person with a Small Bifid Indention on the Tip of the Nose Be Turned Down for a Rhinoplasty?

Answers (10)

Answer: Bifid Tip and Rhinopl

Answer: Bifid Tip and Rhinopl

Answer: Indentation in tip of nose is very treatable.

Answer: Indentation in tip of nose is very treatable.

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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