How can I get my nose bridge to look less prominent? What are the risks? (Photo)

     The bridge can be narrowed through a closed rhinoplasty approach.  This will balance the nasal shape.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

A careful history and physical examination would need to be performed to develop a surgical plan.  A rhinoplasty surgery can be performed to help refine the bridge.  The procedure would typically entail osteotomies to help reset the bones. 

The bridge can be narrowed to give your nose a better balance overall. This can be accomplished with osteotomies and possibly a tiny removal of some of the widened bone so the nasal bones can come in some. The risks are minimal as long as an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon performs the procedure, but can include bleeding, scarring, and a small chance of bony asymmetry afterwards.

It appears from the photos that you have a wide bridge (wide nasal bones) that can be narrowed by osteotomies.  This will enhance the appearance of your nose from a front view - the side view gives a pleasant profile.  Additional tip and bridge refinement can be done if you so desire.  All of the above can be done by closed rhinoplasty.  The risks are low in good hands.  Seek a board certified rhinoplasty specialist with a lot of experience.  He should be able to explain the risks in his own experience.

Yes. Your nasal bridge can be narrowed with osteotomies. This can be performed without altering the side view of your nose. This can be done as an isolated procedure or other changes can be made to your nose at the same time if you choose to do so. Osteotomies are typically performed under general anesthesia or deep IV sedation, most often GA. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

It appears that you have a broad nasal dorsum that primarily involves the bony portion of the nasal bridge.  In order to narrow and shape this area you will require osteotomies to the nasal bones.  These are carefully performed cuts within the bone to move them to the new desired location.  Rhinoplasty has several risks and potential complications that anyone who is going to operate on you will undoubtedly cover with you.  In your particular situation, asymmetry of the bridge, not being able to narrow the bridge as much as you had anticipated, and overly narrowing the bridge are potential risks, but not likely to occur in the hands of a skilled rhinoplasty surgeon.

I see that your nasal bones are broad, flat, and asymmetrical. This could be congenital or a result of previous nasal trauma. Well-performed rhinoplasty surgery may be considered, and you may benefit from consulting several rhinoplasty specialists so you could see what might be best for you.Hope this helps you.Dr. Joseph

There are a number of ways to narrow the bridge of the nose. These all involve cutting the bones to narrow them with what are called osteotomies. A personal exam, with computer imaging helps in determining how much we can narrow your nose since it's important to actually feel you nose and nasal bones to determine how much it can be narrowed. 

Good morning and thank you for your inquiry. The nasal bridge is made up of bone. From the inside of the nose that bone can be filed down using rasps. Sculpting of nasal bone can be detailed and complex. For example very specific rasps should be used in the bridge or glabella area. The proper rasp is called a glabella rasp. As I review and study your photos please do not confuse frontal bossing with bridge height. Bridge height and it's a bony components are part of the nose. There is an element of frontal bossing that I see in your submitted photographs. This is the fullness of the frontal bones over each eye and brow. Behind them lies the frontal sinuses. It may be that area along with your nasal bridge that contributes to the fullness you see in the bony aspect of the midface. In summary, I would rasp the bridge carefully with a series of Glabella rasps, but leave the frontal bony area alone. I invite you to my office for a complementary consultation so that I can see your issues under direct view. Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to comment on your plastic surgical problem. Sincerely,

There exists a very delicate maneouver to reduce the dorsum in width but not in depth (this would lead to a saddle nose in your case of non-prominent bridge), it consists in inserting a Joseph's manual saw and cut away few mm of doral bone and also the same mm from dorsal cartilage (in this case by knife, obviously, and not by saw), and then apply the tradional internal in-fractures.You'll be very happy with this rhinoplasty, however few surgeons know how to do it, even regular rhinoplasty practitioners, so do reassure with the doctor in charge he knows EXACTLY how to do the above described technique.