Nose shape wonky - what can be done to fix and define the appearance? (Photos)

Question

I have been insecure about my nose for a long time now. I feel like I’ve become more confident about it in recent years but it never fully was something I am happy about. My insecurities about my nose mainly stem from lack of definition, short length (I feel like it lowkey has a ‘piggy-ish’ effect since nostril holes are visible when straight), and the way the middle side part pushes out when looking straight, and the c shaped curves on my nostrils that cut too much. Why does the middle parts of my nose stick outward toward my cheek? What can be don’t to fix / straighten and define it’s appearance to look more streamlined. I am adding a photo of what my nose looks like to show what I mean and then the same photo edited to show contrast and an idea of what I want to do.…

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

Based on your appearance, a rhinoplasty would be beneficial. It's a little hard to tell from the pictures, but the bridge may have to be elevated a bit as well as brought in. The photos do show a reasonable result though. Be sure to see a rhinoplasty expert for consultation.

Edwin Kwon, MD, FACS · Answer

The things you're describing usually come from how the tip and the middle of the nose are supported, not from one single bump you can rasp away. Softness and a lack of definition often mean the tip cartilages are weak relative to the skin covering them, so the tip reads round and undefined even when the rest of the nose is fine. A short nose that shows a lot of nostril from the front is typically an under-supported tip that sits a little too high and short. Lengthening and supporting the tip brings it down and forward so less nostril shows and the profile looks longer and more balanced. The middle parts that push out toward your cheeks are usually a wide or convex midvault and sidewalls, and those can be narrowed and straightened so the nose looks more streamlined from the front. The C-shaped nostril curves often improve once the tip is refined and the rims are supported, sometimes with small rim grafts so the nostril edges look cleaner. Your edited photo is a helpful guide for goals, but how much change is realistic still depends on your skin thickness, cartilage strength, and facial proportions, which need to be judged in person. I'd encourage you to schedule a consultation so your tip, midvault, and nostrils can be examined together and a plan built around the more defined, streamlined look you're after.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photographs, you may benefit from a rhinoplasty. A surgeon can accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. Fascial grafts may also be used to help improve tip refinement. Make sure you are going to a surgeon with hundreds of long-term before and after pictures on their website with standardized lighting and standardized backgrounds. With good surgical technique, you could have an outstanding result. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained board certified plastic surgeon

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained board certified plastic surgeon

Nose shape wonky - what can be done to fix and define the appearance? (Photos)

Answers (3)

More Asian Rhinoplasty Questions

What is the best approach to shrink a nose with rather small nostrils?

Can I thin my alar rim thickness by 1 - 1.5mm? Are my goals for rhinoplasty sounds and realistic? (Photos)

New rhinoplasty goals - are these more realistic?

Are my frontal profile goal realistic?

Is it possible to thin the alar margin through a rhinoplasty? If so, by how much? (Photos)

Would a tiplasty + alarplasty suffice to make my nose more narrow and my tip sharper? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS