How narrow can you make your nostrils with alarplasty?

Question

Hi, is there a limit on how many millimeters can your nostrils be narrowed with alarplasty?

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

A few millimeters is all that is possible, 2-3, on each side.  Any more and you can distort the alar rim and cause asymmetries that are then impossible to correct.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. I recommend you to send your photos to us to tell you what procedures you need.Kind regards

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.    Make sure you
specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have
had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their
results.   The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are
comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified
board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Jonathan Pontell, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi and thanks for your question.  There is not a single measurement for the width of the nostrils that applies to all noses.  A good guideline to determine where the nostril should be is to drop a vertical line down from the inner corner of the eyes and the nostrils should be inside this line.  You have to keep in mind that this guideline is for a Caucasian nose.  This is not the same for other racial groups that have wider, flatter noses.  In general, however, you can narrow the nostrils if they are too wide, but not so much that air flow is impeded.  I would be happy to show you with computer imaging how the nostrils can be changed.Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Narrowing of the nostrils is determined by what your goal is and your overall anatomy. It can be reduced in  many cases by several millimeters.

Daniel Del Vecchio, MD · Answer

this technique is especially useful in non-Caucasian noses. In many non-Caucasian noses, the nostrils are too wide. Simply cutting out a wedge causes the nose to look pinched and unnatural.   however, the alar cinch  technique results in a much better looking nostril and can achieve narrowing of 2 to 3 mm on either side.

How narrow can you make your nostrils with alarplasty?

Answers (6)

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