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Standalone Alarplasty - Will It Make the Tip Appear Bigger? (photo)

crowhandMar 28, 2013
My nasal bridge, tip, and nostrils are fairly wide, but I have decided only to have alarplasty performed. I am pretty satisfied with the rest of my nose, but one worry I have is that if I get the nostrils narrowed, there would be a chance the tip would appear even more bulbous. I have thick skin though and I know that there is only so much a surgeon can do, but I want to be sure if getting alarplasty alone would be a wise decision.

Answers (4)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
Dr. Kenneth Hughes, MD
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Dr. Kenneth Hughes, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.7 | 664 Reviews
Answered on Mar 30, 2013
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Dr. William Portuese, MD
Dr. William Portuese, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Answered on Apr 1, 2013
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Dr. Kimberly Lee, MD
Dr. Kimberly Lee, MD
Facial Plastic Surgeon, Board Certified in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Answered on Mar 30, 2013
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Dr. Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired)
Dr. Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired)
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Answered on Mar 31, 2013
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David W. Kim, MD

The shape of the tip and base of the nose should look triangular in order for the nose to look balanced.  If the ala are narrowed and the tip is left the same, it created a squarer or more bulbous shape to the base of the nose.  In some noses in which the tip is relatively narrow...

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Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS

The redness and irregularities will usually fade and soften over time on their own, but there are a few treatments that can expedite the road to recovery.  Treatment with a pulsed-dye laser will help to reduce the redness more quickly, while treatment with a fractional resurfacing laser can...

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Brent Moelleken, MD

There are actually many techniques that can be used to narrow the nostrils. Depending on alar height, nostril width, overall width and the proportion between different parts in the nose, a technique can be selected that minimizes scarring and maximizes a pleasing proportion. It's best...

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Kenneth Hughes, MD

    The alar base can be narrowed with very minimal scar and the rest of the tip rhinoplasty can be performed in closed fashion including suture stabilization.  The less manipulation of the tip the less chance of collapse.  Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials...

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Thomas Buonassisi, MD

Thanks for your question Vanessa. Alar base reduction is performed at the base of the nostrils as they attach to the upper lip and nasal sil. Reduction of the ala really has no effect on the nasal tip itself. Tip refinement surgery requires modification of the nasal tip cartillages and this...

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Thomas Buonassisi, MD

Yes you are correct. Alarplasty can narrow the nose and make the nostrils more symetric. I like to place the incisions at the junction of the nostril and cheek to help camouflage the incissions. In most cases the scar can be easily covered with make up until the scar fades.

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