I read a section in a rhinoplasty textbook that says you can narrow the nose by adding adequate tip projection. Is this viable?

Question

I want a narrower nose but don't really want any tissue excised as I've found in my research that it very often results in an unnatural appearance. How significant can the narrowing effect with this approach be?8

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

It is viable. It’s an optical illusion. A flat roof looks wider than a peaked inclined roof. So by giving projection, the nose will look more structured and narrow.

I hope this helps !

Best of luck !

Bora Ok, MD · Answer

Hi from Istanbul! Excellent question :) Yes, enhancing tip projection can give the illusion of a narrower nose by stretching and refining the nasal tip skin. The balance between tip height and columellar length is crucial in ensuring a harmonious and natural appearance. If the tip is disproportionately high or the columella is too short, or vice versa, it can result in an unnatural look. Hope this helps, best of luck!

Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS · Answer

For most patients seeking to create enhanced nasal tip definition during Asian rhinoplasty the nasal skin envelope will be thicker than in a white patient with a bulbous nasal tip with a similar goal. Due to the thicker skin, sometimes the underlying structure of the nasal tip will be obscured, and thus reduce the amount of definition that is visible externally. In this case, a nuanced combination of increasing the projection to add tension to the skin, unified tip grafts to add refinement to the framework of the nose, and volume reduction by conservative removal of subcutaneous fat, will create the most naturally defined nose.

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. Increasing tip projection (and dorsal height for that matter) can certainly create the illusion of a narrower nose. The effect can be very significant, because in many cases the perception of excessive nasal width actually has to do with it being excessively 'flat'. The measurable width of the nose will not really change with this approach, and sometimes alarplasty is needed as well to reduce the width and/or flare of the nostrils. 
Best,Dr. Tower

I read a section in a rhinoplasty textbook that says you can narrow the nose by adding adequate tip projection. Is this viable?

Answers (4)

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