Protuberance on one side of nasal tip - Can the numb be corrected to match the other side? (photos)

Hi during a rhinoplasty tip is addressed as part of the surgery to enhance nasal shape and profile.It is better for you to consult with a facial plastic surgeon who can examine you and discuss the surgical procedure and the post op recovery
process.

From this one photo (and 3/4 photos from both sides would give the most information), it looks as though your right tip cartilage is rounder and broader than your left. The tip is made up of two cartilages, and it's fairly frequent that they are a little different. The dent you see is probably just the space between the cartilages. The woman whose photo I put with my answer here had very large tip cartilages with a large dent between them. Why does it look like it's getting bigger. It's probably because you're getting older. The nasal skin sometimes gets thinner, or the underlying tissue gets thinner, with age, and as that happens, it's easier to see the details of the structure underneath the skin. As you see that more, it looks more like the structure is pressing out on the skin, making it look like the cartilages are growing.

How *much* to narrow the tip, or change the shape of the tip cartilages, or make other changes? We figure that out with morphs, well before surgery. I'd love for you to see some excellent professionally-designed morphs of what could possibly be done with your nose. Morphs could also help you identify better just what's bothering you, and help you set a goal for the rhinoplasty that's accurate for your tastes. Profile and three-quarter views would be particularly important in morphing your nose. (Side note: in my opinion, morphs should really be done by the surgeon, or he should direct an assistant as she makes the morphs. Morphs should be made with a constant eye to what actually *can* be done in surgery, for that particular nose, and the surgeon has that information and judgment best.)

Finally, remember that rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. The changes that your nose needs require advanced techniques, and skill that most plastic surgeons don't possess with expertise. It's much better to not have surgery than to have inexpertly-performed surgery. Read my essay on how to stay out of trouble while selecting a rhinoplasty surgeon. And it also discusses how to take photos that are best for online evaluations.

Your nose is asymmetrical as well as your nostrils. A rhinoplasty can improve the symmetry.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Your tip cartilages are asymmetric in position and possibly size. With a rhinoplasty these can be repositioned and resized for symmetry and a finer tip.

Thank you for your question. You are an excellent candidate for rhinoplasty. I agree with your assessment and think it is one of the most beautifying surgeries that we do as plastic surgeons. As we age, our cartilaginous structures continue to grow and that includes the tip of your nose. A large portion of my practice is dedicated to rhinoplasty surgery. It is important to only see plastic surgeons with extensive experience in rhinoplasty, ie perform at least 6 per month and have performed hundreds of cases. Also, critically evaluate on-line galleries to see if their art form resonates with yours. Rhinoplasty is definitely a grey haired plastic surgeon's sport. Best wishes to you.