The result is my left nostril has no base left. Is It Possible to Reverse an Alar Base Reduction?

Question

Is there a way to reverse an alar base reduction, or nostril reduction, once it's been performed? I am very happy with one side, the side that needed reduction, but the other side really didn't need anything done to it, but it was also reduced. The result is my left nostril has no base left, leaving it looking strikingly different than the other side and is just very unnatural in appearance. I have read this is very difficult to reverse once it has been performed. I would like to know if it can be fixed, and, if so, how is it done.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear about your asymmetry.  I have not either seen or heard of reversal of alar base reduction.  It is a very difficult to reverse, emphasizing the importance of doing it correctly the first time around.
There are a few surgeons who a very skilled at complete nasal reconstruction, Gary Burget, MD in Chicago one of them.  They may be able to guide you to the best solution of your problem.
Dr. P

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

It depends on the surgeon and how much is left of the alar floor. One would have to see it to make any opinion. See an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who deals with many revisions.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Alar base reduction is performed to reduce a wide nasal base.  If you have already had this done and it has completely obliterated that space, it is very difficult to bring in other skin.  It can be performed; however, the skin has to be brought in from another location such as a flap or a graft, which will inevitably lead to scarring and formation of additional incisions.

Stella Desyatnikova, MD · Answer

It is very difficult to reverse the reduction once it is done. Depending on what you have now, it might be possible to put a combined skin and cartilage graft or do some local tissue rearrangement to increase the deformed side. 
I would caution you that it will be extremely difficult to achieve complete symmetry. I have seen several patients from other doctors who had poor results from the reduction with an overdone reduction or a marked asymmetry. In all of these cases, after we discussed the pros and cons, and risks of then procedure, we chose to leave it alone.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Once an alar base reduction is performed it is extremely difficult to reconstruct the lost tissue and restore the original appearance. The magnitude of recontructing this would be like those that are performed for skin cancer patients. The scars are not great.

The result is my left nostril has no base left. Is It Possible to Reverse an Alar Base Reduction?

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Answer: Alar base reduction and its reversal.

Answer: Alar base reduction and its reversal.

Answer: Alar base reduction reversal

Answer: Alar base reduction reversal

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Everything you need to know about Alarplasty

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The result is my left nostril has no base left. Is It Possible to Reverse an Alar Base Reduction?

Answers (9)

Answer: Alar base reduction and its reversal.

Answer: Alar base reduction and its reversal.

Answer: Alar base reduction reversal

Answer: Alar base reduction reversal

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Alarplasty

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