Rhinoplasty drastically changed profile - advice? (photos)

Question

I recently had a rhinoplasty to make my nose more narrow from the front, and the doctor reduced my alar base. Is that normal? Couldn’t that have been achieved by narrowing the cartilage instead? I’m a little sad because I know that is irreversible. Also I feel like my nostril rims(left and right) aren’t symmetrical when that wasn’t even an issue before.First picture is the before, the rest are the after pics. Just wanted to narrow my nose and my profile drastically drastically too.

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

Reducing the alar base is a common way of getting the nose to be narrower from the front. Based on your photos, it looks like your surgeon probably did both this and also reduced the tip. Personally, I always communicate with my patients if I plan to address the alar base because, as you said, it is permanent and I want them to know that I am doing it beforehand, but I know that not all surgeons do this. As for the asymmetry, your nostrils do not look overly asymmetric to me- if you study your before/first picture, you will see they were already asymmetric in a similar way to begin, and usually doing alar base surgeries will enhance some of that asymmetry. I think your nose looks pretty great from these photos.

Rhinoplasty drastically changed profile - advice? (photos)

Answers (1)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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

Rhinoplasty drastically changed profile - advice? (photos)

Answers (1)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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