I don't like my nose specially when I smile. Is it possible to get a rhinoplasty but with no drastic change? (photos)

Question

when i smile i hate that it gets wider. Is it possible to get a rhinoplasty but with no drastic change .that is my worry thanks .

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It is normal for the nose to widen with smiling due to contraction of the facial musculature. The rhinoplasty procedure can narrow a wide nose at rest, not upon animation. Releasing the depressor septi  muscle will prevent the tip of the nose from drooping with animation.  Digital computer imaging would be helpful to understand what can be accomplished with your nose upon your facial features. For many examples of narrowing at a wide nose with rhinoplasty, please see the link and video below

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Your nose width is normal at rest, and to narrow the animated (smiling) nasal width would cause a very unnatural pinched nasal base when not smiling--your nostrils would be slits, and breathing would be compromised. THAT would be unsightly and quite unnatural, whereas your natural nasal flare is absolutely normal. Everyone's nose does this, even models and actresses! You don't provide a profile view, but from the front, your nose looks beautiful!You absolutely can undergo rhinoplasty, but anyone fulfilling your request to narrow your nasal base width (which would decrease your nostril size AND width) would be creating a nightmare for you. Please do not alter normal nostrils--you will come to regret it, IMHO. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Rhinoplasty is largely a static operation not a dynamic one. It can correct few nasal changes that occur with motion or smiling. You should largely not undergo a rhinoplasty because you want to change something that occurs with smiling unless it is a pull down of the nasal tip. Widening of the nostrils with motion is not a nose feature that can be altered by rhinoplasty surgery. There may be other static nasal features that may make the operation worthwhile but nasal flaring is not one of them.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

Rhinoplasty results can be dramatic for some, or very subtle for others, depending on what your nasal features are and what changes will best suit the situation. Your srugeon should cover this clearly with you, with photos to help you understand the goal and plan of the procedure.

Michael M. Kim, MD · Answer

Hello Annamesi,The nose will change shape with smiling in a variety of ways. It can get wider on front view and it can droop on profile view.When narrowing a nose, we set our width to how the nose looks at rest and not at smiling. The increased width of the nose is due to the cheek facial muscles pulling on the sides of the nose. This should not be narrowed because then at rest you would have a very abnormally thin nose.As for the profile view, some patients complain of drooping of the tip. This can be due to 2 reasons. First, the facial muscles again elevate the nostrils and make them higher. Again, this should not be changed. Second, the tip can droop due to a muscular attachment from the bottom of the nasal tip to the lip. During rhinoplasty, this muscle can be cut and prevent that portion responsible for a tip droop. This along with setting the support of the nose can markedly reduce tip drooping with smiling.Hope that helps.Michael M. Kim, MD

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Consult with an experienced rhinoplasty specialist to discuss what changes can be made to achieve your goals so you have a natural post-op result. By changing the width of your tip you can also alter nasal appearance with facial animation.

I don't like my nose specially when I smile. Is it possible to get a rhinoplasty but with no drastic change? (photos)

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