Can you make the columella narrower?

Question

I have a wide columella, and when I pinch it to make it look thinner and more narrow it changes the whole appearance of my nose in a very attractive way. Can this be achieved through Rhinoplasty? Thank You!

Edwin F. Williams, III, MD · Answer

Typically yes this can be done. It depends on why the columella is wide. Sometimes it is deviated caudal septal cartilage, large lower lateral cartilages, or recurvature/redundancy of the cartilages. The shape can be change with cartilage relocation, conservative resection, suturing techniques, or a combination fo the above.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is possible to make nose columella narrower in different ways, depending what is causing wide columella. Only on the basis of in person evaluation, a good rhinoplasty surgeon can give you more detailed answer. Good luck.

Brandon E. Kallman, MD · Answer

There are many reasons for a large and wide columella. It can be attributed to the cartilages that lie within the columella. Sometimes they’re just too far apart and need to be narrowed . Sometimes it’s the skin, but most of the time this can be controlled with sutures. An open rhinoplasty would be able to assess the columella and “medial crura” which is the medical term for your columella cartilages. An experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, who specializes in rhinoplasty would be able to narrow your columella and give your nose a much sleeker appearance. I would definitely choose an open approach to your nose versus a closed.

David Mattos, MD · Answer

Good question. This depends on the anatomical cause. If you post a photo of what it looks like I would be able to have a better idea. There are a couple of reasons why it could be wide. It could be due to caudal septal cartilage that is deviated, or larger than normal lower lateral cartilages, or medial footplates of the LLC that project outward from the midline more than usual.  Either way, for some people this can and should be corrected, but for others with different anatomical causes it cannot and should not be attempted to be correct. 
-Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group

Can you make the columella narrower?

Answers (4)

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