Can I get a straight profile with a supratip break?

Question

Is it possible to have a straight profile with a slight supratip break? Or is "supratip break" another way of asking for slope? I thought about doing just a straight profile but upon research, thought a slight supratip break would make my nose look less long from the profile view. Am I thinking about the supratip break correctly? Does anyone have any pics of a straight profile with a slight supratip break? I just want to make sure I am understanding this term and the results. Thank you.

Ritu Chopra, MD · Answer

It's one of the nuances to rhinoplasty.  Leaving a hint of a supra tip dip to accent the feminine tip.  I avoid it like the plague on men.  But on women, a perfectly straight profile can look a little to strong, unless the face is long and the patient is tall.  Supra tip dips are easy to fill afterwards, if you don't like yours so it's no harm-no foul going for a nice supra tip dip with your rhinoplasty.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD · Answer

It is often aesthetic to have a slight supratip break especially in females, but that is up for discussion with the patient in conjunction with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon. Often, I do not make a significant supratip break, in a male rhinoplasty patient.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

An absolutely straight nasal profile is often felt by patients (and doctors) to be an unnatural "operated-on" look. The slight upward tilt of the nasal tip from an otherwise straight nasal profile is created surgically where one is not present to give a more natural, un-operated tip appearance. Some men are OK with a straight nasal profile, but most women (and some men) prefer a more refined, elegant look with a slight "break" in the straight line. The ideal "break" is very subtle, IMHO.

	A "scoop" or curve to the nasal profile is generally a sign of over-resection of the nasal hump, and can give an unnatural "ski jump"  type nasal appearance. This is not a good look, and the tiny overdone nose went "out" in the 60's!

Ricardo A. Meade, MD · Answer

It sounds like you have the right idea about the STB point.  It will make your nose look a bit more feminine in addition to the concepts that you've understood.  In order to create it we need to surgically raise the tip of the nose over the dorsum, so it is quite a different concept in answer to your question about a slope nose.  Good luck.

Aaron Stone, MD · Answer

The supratip break is a 1 or 2 mm deep concave area just above the tip of the nose that is mostly visible on a side view. In the absence of this break we say there is a supratip deformity. The reason for trying to place it there is to make the result of surgery more natural in appearance so the nose does not look operated on. This is very different from a ski slope deformity in terms of depth and length of the concave area on the bridge. The treatment of ski slopes is to place a graft on the bridge of the nose.

Can I get a straight profile with a supratip break?

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Answer: Supratip break

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Answer: Rhinoplasty and supratip break

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Can I get a straight profile with a supratip break?

Answers (6)

Answer: Supratip break

Answer: Supratip break

Answer: Rhinoplasty and supratip break

Answer: Rhinoplasty and supratip break

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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